from bron australia

Ok, I'm no pro, but here are answers from my own experience.  Original tumor was on upper chest with clean margins and sentinal nodes. This was a mole that had always been there, so who knows how long it was cancerous.  It was ulcerated a tthe time of removal. no radiation or chemo was recommended.   It was 7 years before mel raised his ugly head again. due to symptoms, I had a brain cat which found 2 mets.  I had a chest x-ray that came back clean.  Three days later a pet scan showed uptake in lung and a cat scan showed 6 small mets there.  LDH at that time was 199.  I don't know what is normal, but mine has ranged from 232 to 130 since I've been in treatment.  Still do not show signs of any cancer in lymph nodes.

So 1. yes a CAT scan will show up small tumors, but most drs would probably consider them a waste at this time unless there are other symptoms.

2. I'm not sure LDH levels would be significant enought to warrarnt the test.

3. Ulcerated is more serious that not.

4. May not have enlarged nodes.

I would guess your Dr will adopt a watchful waiting policy.  Regular visits with blood tests and chest x-ray, and reg visits to dermatologist. That seems to be the norm. 

Your daughter may live to be 100 with no further sign of the disease, but you will always be watching and waiting. 

I wish I could tell you there is one right way to handle this to guarantee it won't be back. There isn't. On the other hand, there is no guarantee it will be back either. Get the info you can, but TRY not to obsess.Treatment protocals and options are changing every day.

Ok, I'm no pro, but here are answers from my own experience.  Original tumor was on upper chest with clean margins and sentinal nodes. This was a mole that had always been there, so who knows how long it was cancerous.  It was ulcerated a tthe time of removal. no radiation or chemo was recommended.   It was 7 years before mel raised his ugly head again. due to symptoms, I had a brain cat which found 2 mets.  I had a chest x-ray that came back clean.  Three days later a pet scan showed uptake in lung and a cat scan showed 6 small mets there.  LDH at that time was 199.  I don't know what is normal, but mine has ranged from 232 to 130 since I've been in treatment.  Still do not show signs of any cancer in lymph nodes.

So 1. yes a CAT scan will show up small tumors, but most drs would probably consider them a waste at this time unless there are other symptoms.

2. I'm not sure LDH levels would be significant enought to warrarnt the test.

3. Ulcerated is more serious that not.

4. May not have enlarged nodes.

I would guess your Dr will adopt a watchful waiting policy.  Regular visits with blood tests and chest x-ray, and reg visits to dermatologist. That seems to be the norm. 

Your daughter may live to be 100 with no further sign of the disease, but you will always be watching and waiting. 

I wish I could tell you there is one right way to handle this to guarantee it won't be back. There isn't. On the other hand, there is no guarantee it will be back either. Get the info you can, but TRY not to obsess.Treatment protocals and options are changing every day.

Ok, I'm no pro, but here are answers from my own experience.  Original tumor was on upper chest with clean margins and sentinal nodes. This was a mole that had always been there, so who knows how long it was cancerous.  It was ulcerated a tthe time of removal. no radiation or chemo was recommended.   It was 7 years before mel raised his ugly head again. due to symptoms, I had a brain cat which found 2 mets.  I had a chest x-ray that came back clean.  Three days later a pet scan showed uptake in lung and a cat scan showed 6 small mets there.  LDH at that time was 199.  I don't know what is normal, but mine has ranged from 232 to 130 since I've been in treatment.  Still do not show signs of any cancer in lymph nodes.

So 1. yes a CAT scan will show up small tumors, but most drs would probably consider them a waste at this time unless there are other symptoms.

2. I'm not sure LDH levels would be significant enought to warrarnt the test.

3. Ulcerated is more serious that not.

4. May not have enlarged nodes.

I would guess your Dr will adopt a watchful waiting policy.  Regular visits with blood tests and chest x-ray, and reg visits to dermatologist. That seems to be the norm. 

Your daughter may live to be 100 with no further sign of the disease, but you will always be watching and waiting. 

I wish I could tell you there is one right way to handle this to guarantee it won't be back. There isn't. On the other hand, there is no guarantee it will be back either. Get the info you can, but TRY not to obsess.Treatment protocals and options are changing every day.

Hi Bron

I know exactly what you mean about people having no idea about Melanoma.  I was 33 when I had one cut out in Feb, a mole on my back that the doctor told me not to bother with as it was fine.  Luckily I insisted that he cut it out then and there and it turned out to be a 1mm, ulcerated, clarks level IV.  I have since had a PET scan that was fine and an ultrasound.  Have had 2 follow up visits with the surgeon (Toowoomba), who is also very relaxed about everything. 

He has now said I only need follow up visits with a doctor.  He told me to learn how to check my own lymph nodes for swelling.  Now I just need to find a decent doctor who doesn't just say you'll be fine and is willing to do yearly scans.  I have read alot of cases where it's years later and the cancer has returned, not on the skin but as tumors.  It is so scary.  I think it's important to have follow up PET scans, the sad thing is most doctors won't agree.  And I got told by my surgeon it's because 'they are expensive'.  I mean who really cares about expense, i sure don't!  It was covered by medicare anyway.

From what I have researched the a good specialist in Brisbane is a Dr Smithers (maybe not spelt that way).  Your daughter should try and get in with him.  I was lucky the skin cancer clinic in Toowoomba sent him my pathology results when I was deciding whether to have a SNB done or not. 

I guess the important thing for your daughter now is regular skin checks by a skin cancer clinic (not a doctor), and to find a good GP who will be thorough with follow up tests.

Kelly

Hi Bron

I know exactly what you mean about people having no idea about Melanoma.  I was 33 when I had one cut out in Feb, a mole on my back that the doctor told me not to bother with as it was fine.  Luckily I insisted that he cut it out then and there and it turned out to be a 1mm, ulcerated, clarks level IV.  I have since had a PET scan that was fine and an ultrasound.  Have had 2 follow up visits with the surgeon (Toowoomba), who is also very relaxed about everything. 

He has now said I only need follow up visits with a doctor.  He told me to learn how to check my own lymph nodes for swelling.  Now I just need to find a decent doctor who doesn't just say you'll be fine and is willing to do yearly scans.  I have read alot of cases where it's years later and the cancer has returned, not on the skin but as tumors.  It is so scary.  I think it's important to have follow up PET scans, the sad thing is most doctors won't agree.  And I got told by my surgeon it's because 'they are expensive'.  I mean who really cares about expense, i sure don't!  It was covered by medicare anyway.

From what I have researched the a good specialist in Brisbane is a Dr Smithers (maybe not spelt that way).  Your daughter should try and get in with him.  I was lucky the skin cancer clinic in Toowoomba sent him my pathology results when I was deciding whether to have a SNB done or not. 

I guess the important thing for your daughter now is regular skin checks by a skin cancer clinic (not a doctor), and to find a good GP who will be thorough with follow up tests.

Kelly

Hi Bron

I know exactly what you mean about people having no idea about Melanoma.  I was 33 when I had one cut out in Feb, a mole on my back that the doctor told me not to bother with as it was fine.  Luckily I insisted that he cut it out then and there and it turned out to be a 1mm, ulcerated, clarks level IV.  I have since had a PET scan that was fine and an ultrasound.  Have had 2 follow up visits with the surgeon (Toowoomba), who is also very relaxed about everything. 

He has now said I only need follow up visits with a doctor.  He told me to learn how to check my own lymph nodes for swelling.  Now I just need to find a decent doctor who doesn't just say you'll be fine and is willing to do yearly scans.  I have read alot of cases where it's years later and the cancer has returned, not on the skin but as tumors.  It is so scary.  I think it's important to have follow up PET scans, the sad thing is most doctors won't agree.  And I got told by my surgeon it's because 'they are expensive'.  I mean who really cares about expense, i sure don't!  It was covered by medicare anyway.

From what I have researched the a good specialist in Brisbane is a Dr Smithers (maybe not spelt that way).  Your daughter should try and get in with him.  I was lucky the skin cancer clinic in Toowoomba sent him my pathology results when I was deciding whether to have a SNB done or not. 

I guess the important thing for your daughter now is regular skin checks by a skin cancer clinic (not a doctor), and to find a good GP who will be thorough with follow up tests.

Kelly