Can Melanoma in Situ come back after excision?

This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 1 month ago by jennunicorn.

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- April 10, 2017 at 5:39 pm
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Bulldogs81
Participant
Hello! A few years ago I was dx'd with melanoma in situ on my right fore arm. I had an excision, the margins weren't clear and I had to have it re-excised.

Today I noticed, right in the center of the scar, a brown splotchy line has developed. It appears to be right where the original mole was. I'm a little worried, but because it was in situ I am not sure if it is possible for it to come back.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

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- - April 10, 2017 at 6:25 pm
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  Jamie1960
  Participant
  I'm having the same experience within the scar from a IIB ulcerated WLE; while my surgeon advises that it is nothing to worry about, I am mindful of current work regarding "field cancerization" (Slaughter et al, 1953) being done at Dana Farber using zebrafish (Google it). Damaged cells can be "primed" in UV-affected areas adjacent to WLE locations without necessarily showing up in the pathology.
  
  Given your experience with two surgeries for the same "in situ", I would be extremely vigilant and get another set of eyes on it. No harm in another biopsy my friend.
- - April 10, 2017 at 6:26 pm
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  Jamie1960
  Participant
  PS – GO DAWGS !
- - April 11, 2017 at 12:19 am
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  BillMFl
  Participant
  Easy to biopsy and know for sure if you are worried. Not likely mm but anything is possible. I sometimes get somewhat insistant on rquesting a biopsy and have been correct more often than not. That tends to be the case with lesions that are very early. There is never a doubt with the knarly ones. Both of my mms were early and I had to push for the biopsy. Don't be bashfull and be your own advocate.
  - April 11, 2017 at 9:23 am
    
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    WallyE
    Participant
    
    I do not think anyone can say with certainty that it will not re-occur.
    
    My personal experience is that I had a mole removed from my right ear in 2006 which was in-situ. I was assured this was totally clear and no recurrance would manifest itself.
    
    In 2011 I developed melanoma in my right lung (mets) and had the middle lobe removed.
    
    In 2015 it spread to my stomach and they removed my stomach in total
    
    In 2016 it spread to my Pancreas / Colon and I had major surgery to remove it.
    
    In 2017 I had a scan to monitor the healing process ind another three tumors were detected.
    
    Further operationbs are no longer an option. I am now on IPI
    
    So, I would be pretty circumspect.
    
    Regards
  - April 11, 2017 at 4:43 pm
    
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    jennunicorn
    Participant
    
    Sounds more of a case of misdiagnosis on your part unfortunately. In situ has absolutely no way of spreading elsewhere. There have been cases, like yours, that have later been proven to have been misdiagnosed in situ when it should have been stage 1. Very sorry you've gone through so much. Wishing you all the best.