help needed with my daughter superficial spreading melanoma

Hello… i have just joined this MRF messageboard today. please be patient. i have never used one of these boards before. i will be clinical and brief.

Please excuse any spelling errors i am very stressed…

My daughter is 42 years old.

 Had melanoma removed by local doctor on 25.07.12 FROM the middle of her back between her shoulder blades.

Pathology results.

-superficial spreading melanoma.

-BRESLOW 2MM.

-CLARK Level 4.

-ulcerated-YES.

-mitotic rate  >5

Hello… i have just joined this MRF messageboard today. please be patient. i have never used one of these boards before. i will be clinical and brief.

Please excuse any spelling errors i am very stressed…

My daughter is 42 years old.

 Had melanoma removed by local doctor on 25.07.12 FROM the middle of her back between her shoulder blades.

Pathology results.

-superficial spreading melanoma.

-BRESLOW 2MM.

-CLARK Level 4.

-ulcerated-YES.

-mitotic rate  >5

I have done hours on the computer and worked out she would be

T2BN0M0

She was referred to an ONCOLOGY SURGEON who removed a large piece of skin from the original site to just below her right shoulder.

He also removed the lymph node under her right arm. (although he kept stating he did not need to as the results would be clear).

The surgeon would not tell us why he thought the results would be clear.

Pathology on the removed skin and lymph nodes are clear…

We had two visits with the surgeon. 1 prior to surgery and 1 after to get the results.

She is scheduled to have follow up visits every 4 months.

NO ONE will give us any further information. The surgeon stated there is a 20% chance the melanoma will come back. After being pressed he stated

it will come back in her organs and he based that on her high? mitotic rate. I had to ask three times to get that answer. It seems he does not want to discuss her case… this is frightening me as i think HE thinks she is a lost cause….. (and i dont frighten easily).

SEEMS WE MUST JUST SIT AND WAIT.

MY burning questions are.

-Does the melanoma ALWAYS come back with everyone with these pathology readings above or only some peoples.

-If it comes back and they find a tumor and need to operate, is it easier if she is normal weight.. (she is overweight).

-I phoned the melanoma unit at the hospitall and they state she does NOT need an oncologist unless her surgeon refers her. (the surgeon is NOT an oncologist). Is this correct.

-Why was he so sure the lymph node would be clear. Does he think the cancer has gone below the skin into the blood or tissue.

If anyone can help me i would appreciate it….

very kind regards from Bron (queensland australia)

PS is it ok to post on this board. i found this the best one so i joined.

l 

 my mmy