ADVICE PLEASE

I only know of one way to definitely know if something is melanoma and that is with a pathology report. If you were my patient I would take a fine biopsy of the spots or just cut them out altogether and have them tested. Just go to a physician to have that done oncologists will just tell you to go to a surgeon anyway and a surgeon will just point you to someone else anyway because it doesn't involve  massive carnage. You are in charge of your healthcare! Own it and take care of it-if anything for your own mental well being.  It's probably nothing but you need to remove the probably. I had a bump under my wle scar and it turned out to be a nerve bundle. 

I think you should push for a fine needle biopsy, it is a straightforward  procedure and the pathologist usually finds out the results very quickly.  I haven’t had the best luck with my lumps (melanoma) – and it is certainly a lot to deal with if it comes back positive, but at least they you can get on a treatment plan versus having th melanoma continue to grow in you. 

Perhaps you can get back in touch with your old surgeon’s office? Is there a melanoma specialist in the area? To get the fine needle biopsy, you need the “order” – so think about who you could go to for that – hopefully your PCP would do that for you.

Good luck! 

Drea, I have to agree…push for the biopsy or at least an ultrasound to determine if they want to biopsy it. I have had a few "angry" nodes since my WLE and SNLB that were imaged with ultrasound and by biopsy that turned out to be nothing. The one that did turn out to be something ended up getting really large and even that was biopsied to confirm it. I also agree that you need to find a clinic/hospital that specializes in melanoma even if you have to travel a bit to see them. It could be absolutely nothing (and I pray that it is nothing), but if it isn't you absolutley will thank yourself for getting to work on it sooner rather than later! My initial experience with this is that most PCPs play the odds and really are not well versed in oncology and particulary poorly versed in melanoma. Get an expert and you will sleep better either way it turns out.

Tex

Adding an additional ‘agree’ to the statements above. I don’t believe that a lymph node should ever be something which can be felt unless one of two things is occurring: (1) Infection which the lymph node is responding to by going into swelled action mode (perfectly normal). (2) Something bad like Melanoma has taken up residence in the lymph node causing it to swell.

If you talk to your family physician, maybe he/she could refer you to an interventional radiologist who could drain the node and do a biopsy.  I had an enlarged lymph node in my right groin right by my SLNB scar for almost a year.  It got bigger for awhile then stayed the same and my oncologist wasn't worried about it, based on size and firmness apparently, but when it was still there after all those months, decided to drain/biopsy it.  It turned out to be harmless.  The odd thing is that after it was drained, it swelled back up within a few weeks!  Eventually it disappeared.  There are many reasons lymph nodes swell, and they are not unusual around surgery sites, but if you are concerned, get it checked.  A lot of doctors will understand if something like that needs to be done for peace of mind, if nothing else.

Just for perspective, monitoring lymph nodes with ultrasound has been studied and that is how some monitor for melanoma without having a lymph node dissection.  If the node has stayed the same size and is "normal" size and ultrasound reads it as normal, then it likely is normal.  Not saying that it couldn't be melanoma, but ultrasound is a valid method for monitoring.  It's possible that you are feeling a totally normal lymph node.   How far apart were your ultrasounds?  As for your backaches and headaches, chances are if they were related to melanoma, they would not be going away but continually getting worse.   My question for you when you have these other symptoms is "would you be concerned with these headaches or backaches if you haven't had melanoma?"  A good question to keep in mind and keep things in perspective.  In the end, you have to do what makes YOU comfortable.  But nothing you describe screams melanoma.

I would push to have it looked into further.  It's your peace of mind.  I had to push very hard tor a biopsy and it ended up saving my life.  Push for the procedure and find out for certain it's nothing.

Good wishes to you.

Jennifer