melanoma stage 3

My husband has Stage 3 melanoma and  decided not to have the radical lymph node dissection.  He received low dose radiation for 20 days followed by a year of Interferon and tolerated is well – he continued to work full time and had little energy for much of  anything else.  He had a recurrence 3 months after finishing Interferon.  The new tumor was removed and he is still Stage 3 with clear PET and MRI scans.

Once we got over the shock and anger of the diagnosis we decided to live life with joy and not let melanoma run our lives.  We think of it as LIVING with melanoma.  

We just passed our second anniversary of finding that egg size lump  in his armpit.  Current treatment is watch and wait, vigilant skin checks for lumps and moles, and thinking about  what Plan C will be if an unresectable growth is found.

I wish you the best in your decision making.

My husband has Stage 3 melanoma and  decided not to have the radical lymph node dissection.  He received low dose radiation for 20 days followed by a year of Interferon and tolerated is well – he continued to work full time and had little energy for much of  anything else.  He had a recurrence 3 months after finishing Interferon.  The new tumor was removed and he is still Stage 3 with clear PET and MRI scans.

Once we got over the shock and anger of the diagnosis we decided to live life with joy and not let melanoma run our lives.  We think of it as LIVING with melanoma.  

We just passed our second anniversary of finding that egg size lump  in his armpit.  Current treatment is watch and wait, vigilant skin checks for lumps and moles, and thinking about  what Plan C will be if an unresectable growth is found.

I wish you the best in your decision making.

My husband has Stage 3 melanoma and  decided not to have the radical lymph node dissection.  He received low dose radiation for 20 days followed by a year of Interferon and tolerated is well – he continued to work full time and had little energy for much of  anything else.  He had a recurrence 3 months after finishing Interferon.  The new tumor was removed and he is still Stage 3 with clear PET and MRI scans.

Once we got over the shock and anger of the diagnosis we decided to live life with joy and not let melanoma run our lives.  We think of it as LIVING with melanoma.  

We just passed our second anniversary of finding that egg size lump  in his armpit.  Current treatment is watch and wait, vigilant skin checks for lumps and moles, and thinking about  what Plan C will be if an unresectable growth is found.

I wish you the best in your decision making.

I was in your exact position.  SLN positive.  I chose a surface node removal.  They removed 7 nodes.  1 additional with micromets.  Did 1 month of HD Inteferon.  Almost two years out now and NED.  I still developed lymphedema in my leg but more than happy to live with it.  

Good luck with your decision.

Colleen

I was in your exact position.  SLN positive.  I chose a surface node removal.  They removed 7 nodes.  1 additional with micromets.  Did 1 month of HD Inteferon.  Almost two years out now and NED.  I still developed lymphedema in my leg but more than happy to live with it.  

Good luck with your decision.

Colleen

I was in your exact position.  SLN positive.  I chose a surface node removal.  They removed 7 nodes.  1 additional with micromets.  Did 1 month of HD Inteferon.  Almost two years out now and NED.  I still developed lymphedema in my leg but more than happy to live with it.  

Good luck with your decision.

Colleen

I was in a similar situation that your wife is in. I had a lymph node in my armpit in which some atypical cells were found. A local surgeon recommended getting it removed. Good thing it was removed because those atypical cells turned out to be melanoma. No mole was ever found. I got a CAT scan at the local hospital, which ended up being clear.

The local surgeon referred me to Johns Hopkins where I was seen by one of their dermatologists. (He found nothing on ny skin either, BTW.) He had told me that the next step would be to have the rest of the lymph nodes removed from that armpit. I had asked him if that was necessary because the CAT scan was clear. He claimed there still could be atypical cells lurking there and it was best to take all the left axillary nodes out and find out how many other nodes were affected, if any. Only AFTER that surgery would they be able to give me my treatment options. 

Now, based on what I've learned from my oncologist, this forum, and MIF's forum is that Interferon does not have a high efficacy rate and is becoming "old school". I think the efficacy rate is around 5%. So, given that, it's not a very good non-surgical option.

The only way you can be certain you will have gotten rid of the melanoma from the lymph node basin is to go ahead with the surgery. And once the surgery is complete, the oncologist will discuss your options with you. Hopefully, your wife's oncologist is someone who specializes in melanoma.

I was in a similar situation that your wife is in. I had a lymph node in my armpit in which some atypical cells were found. A local surgeon recommended getting it removed. Good thing it was removed because those atypical cells turned out to be melanoma. No mole was ever found. I got a CAT scan at the local hospital, which ended up being clear.

The local surgeon referred me to Johns Hopkins where I was seen by one of their dermatologists. (He found nothing on ny skin either, BTW.) He had told me that the next step would be to have the rest of the lymph nodes removed from that armpit. I had asked him if that was necessary because the CAT scan was clear. He claimed there still could be atypical cells lurking there and it was best to take all the left axillary nodes out and find out how many other nodes were affected, if any. Only AFTER that surgery would they be able to give me my treatment options. 

Now, based on what I've learned from my oncologist, this forum, and MIF's forum is that Interferon does not have a high efficacy rate and is becoming "old school". I think the efficacy rate is around 5%. So, given that, it's not a very good non-surgical option.

The only way you can be certain you will have gotten rid of the melanoma from the lymph node basin is to go ahead with the surgery. And once the surgery is complete, the oncologist will discuss your options with you. Hopefully, your wife's oncologist is someone who specializes in melanoma.

I was in a similar situation that your wife is in. I had a lymph node in my armpit in which some atypical cells were found. A local surgeon recommended getting it removed. Good thing it was removed because those atypical cells turned out to be melanoma. No mole was ever found. I got a CAT scan at the local hospital, which ended up being clear.

The local surgeon referred me to Johns Hopkins where I was seen by one of their dermatologists. (He found nothing on ny skin either, BTW.) He had told me that the next step would be to have the rest of the lymph nodes removed from that armpit. I had asked him if that was necessary because the CAT scan was clear. He claimed there still could be atypical cells lurking there and it was best to take all the left axillary nodes out and find out how many other nodes were affected, if any. Only AFTER that surgery would they be able to give me my treatment options. 

Now, based on what I've learned from my oncologist, this forum, and MIF's forum is that Interferon does not have a high efficacy rate and is becoming "old school". I think the efficacy rate is around 5%. So, given that, it's not a very good non-surgical option.

The only way you can be certain you will have gotten rid of the melanoma from the lymph node basin is to go ahead with the surgery. And once the surgery is complete, the oncologist will discuss your options with you. Hopefully, your wife's oncologist is someone who specializes in melanoma.

I am stage 3 C and had a neck dissection with positive nodes, i do not regret the surgery because there could be more involved than expected..I did the 30 HD interferon and it did not work for me, i am now doing my last infusion of Yervoy on wed, scans after that..Good luck..

I am stage 3 C and had a neck dissection with positive nodes, i do not regret the surgery because there could be more involved than expected..I did the 30 HD interferon and it did not work for me, i am now doing my last infusion of Yervoy on wed, scans after that..Good luck..

I am stage 3 C and had a neck dissection with positive nodes, i do not regret the surgery because there could be more involved than expected..I did the 30 HD interferon and it did not work for me, i am now doing my last infusion of Yervoy on wed, scans after that..Good luck..

I had the armpit clearance done after finding an egg sized tumor in my armpit.. and a primary tumor on my forearm (angry red patch, not at all classic melanoma).. pathology says the primary tumor was recessing.

The armpit clearance was aggressive 37 nodes removed. 1 positive. I recovered well. I have slightly reduced movement in my arm (and with stretching I think I could get rid of that). I have lost all sensation in my armpit and the back of arm above the elbow. I did sufffer some lymphadema early on but that has cleared as well. I dont sweat in that armpit anymore.

I didn't hesitate to get that surgery, the downside has been minimal.

I had the armpit clearance done after finding an egg sized tumor in my armpit.. and a primary tumor on my forearm (angry red patch, not at all classic melanoma).. pathology says the primary tumor was recessing.

The armpit clearance was aggressive 37 nodes removed. 1 positive. I recovered well. I have slightly reduced movement in my arm (and with stretching I think I could get rid of that). I have lost all sensation in my armpit and the back of arm above the elbow. I did sufffer some lymphadema early on but that has cleared as well. I dont sweat in that armpit anymore.

I didn't hesitate to get that surgery, the downside has been minimal.

I had the armpit clearance done after finding an egg sized tumor in my armpit.. and a primary tumor on my forearm (angry red patch, not at all classic melanoma).. pathology says the primary tumor was recessing.

The armpit clearance was aggressive 37 nodes removed. 1 positive. I recovered well. I have slightly reduced movement in my arm (and with stretching I think I could get rid of that). I have lost all sensation in my armpit and the back of arm above the elbow. I did sufffer some lymphadema early on but that has cleared as well. I dont sweat in that armpit anymore.

I didn't hesitate to get that surgery, the downside has been minimal.

While I will agree that ALL melanoma cancer cells in the lymph nodes will be removed by a complete removal of the entire lymph node basin, I have problems believing that leaving a clear path for an cells left in the tissue to go up thru the lymph channels until the lymph fluid empties  into the blood supply insures that there are NO cancer cells in the body. 

    i would rather have a second lymph node operation, if some nodes are left and trap some more cancer cells trying to get up the channels.   
I prefer to keep the cells as fr as possible from my blood supply.  There are clinical trials trying to determine whether total or partial  removal gives the best statistical results. 

Just my opinion as a melanoma patient!

While I will agree that ALL melanoma cancer cells in the lymph nodes will be removed by a complete removal of the entire lymph node basin, I have problems believing that leaving a clear path for an cells left in the tissue to go up thru the lymph channels until the lymph fluid empties  into the blood supply insures that there are NO cancer cells in the body. 

    i would rather have a second lymph node operation, if some nodes are left and trap some more cancer cells trying to get up the channels.   
I prefer to keep the cells as fr as possible from my blood supply.  There are clinical trials trying to determine whether total or partial  removal gives the best statistical results. 

Just my opinion as a melanoma patient!

While I will agree that ALL melanoma cancer cells in the lymph nodes will be removed by a complete removal of the entire lymph node basin, I have problems believing that leaving a clear path for an cells left in the tissue to go up thru the lymph channels until the lymph fluid empties  into the blood supply insures that there are NO cancer cells in the body. 

    i would rather have a second lymph node operation, if some nodes are left and trap some more cancer cells trying to get up the channels.   
I prefer to keep the cells as fr as possible from my blood supply.  There are clinical trials trying to determine whether total or partial  removal gives the best statistical results. 

Just my opinion as a melanoma patient!