appointments after surgery

Hi Again,

My husband's notes were on Moffit from his removal of all lymph nodes last week.  This is what Dr Zager had noted:

"  The patient had extensive bulky adenopathy with desease overlying the subcapularis muslce and involving latissimus muscle.  We did take a portiono f his latissimus  uscle and sent a soft tissue nodle for frozen scetion, which came back as positive for metastatc melanoma.

Hi Again,

My husband's notes were on Moffit from his removal of all lymph nodes last week.  This is what Dr Zager had noted:

"  The patient had extensive bulky adenopathy with desease overlying the subcapularis muslce and involving latissimus muscle.  We did take a portiono f his latissimus  uscle and sent a soft tissue nodle for frozen scetion, which came back as positive for metastatc melanoma.

… He had melanoma metastases in soft tissue nodeuls medially and inferiorly to the axillary vein as well. We cleared out the Rotter's nodal basin as well with the help of electrocautery, and we used medium hemoclips on any small lympovascular pedicles.   We then divided the contrents between lels 1 and 2.  He had extensive level 3 disease both in the floor of level 3 as well as in the apex of level 3 and immediately posterior to the axillary vein.  We carefully dissected all these contents our of leve 3.   We passed level 3 contents off the table as a separate specimen."

Dr Zager also said he was stage iiic melanoma and I said you said that before the surgery.  he said well he must have meant stage iiib, as he is definitly stage iiic now and prognosis is fair.  What does "fair" mean?  I know it is less than good, and better than bad, but can you give more definition?  Dr Zager met with me after the surgery and said my husband had "alot" of disease and that he thought he should not have the lung surgery and would talk with Dr Toloza.  6 days later, the lung surgery has been cancelled and we got a call today for an appointment on 6/26 with DR Dilling at Moffit, a thorasic Onc for radiation.

What are your thoughts on the melanoma notes from the doctor?  Obviously, I know it is dangerous, but in english what does this mean. 

Thanks, Mary