Help with pathology report on biopsy
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Help with pathology report on biopsy

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Help with pathology report on biopsy

  • Post
    • October 11, 2015 at 6:22 pm
    Shannon
    Participant

      Hello All,

      I just signed on to this site and am having a hard time navigating, hopefully this message will come through.

      3 weeks ago I went to the derm for my anual full body scan to check for problems, she found something, did a punch biopsy and sent it off.  Here is what the path said, I am very nervous.  I already have uterine cancer and simply cannot go on in dealing with yet another diagnosis, when I simply went in for simple peace of mind =(

      "Compound nevus with architecture disorder and moderate to severe cytologic atypia.

      Examined biopsy edges are negative for atypical nevus".

      She wants to take more of the border to make sure, I guess that they got it all.  I am worried that they want to verify their findings that this could possibly be melanoma.  I have never had anything like this before.  I am 48 year old female, blonde with blue eyes, very fair skin.  Did some indoor tanning years ago…..like 3 years worth.  Please help!

      Shannon

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        • October 11, 2015 at 8:07 pm
        brewgirl68
        Participant

          Hi there!

          i just wanted to let you know that your post did go through. This site is very easy to navigate, but I think the spam issue has things a bit wonky.

          i can't help you with the path report as I never had any skin lesions…I went straight past "Go" and found it in my lymph nodes. Rest assured that someone will jump in.

          take care-

          Sheila

          • October 11, 2015 at 8:07 pm
          brewgirl68
          Participant

            Hi there!

            i just wanted to let you know that your post did go through. This site is very easy to navigate, but I think the spam issue has things a bit wonky.

            i can't help you with the path report as I never had any skin lesions…I went straight past "Go" and found it in my lymph nodes. Rest assured that someone will jump in.

            take care-

            Sheila

              • October 12, 2015 at 11:32 pm
              Shannon
              Participant

                Thank you Sheila for your response.  That's scary,  you had no skin lesion but they found it in a lymph node???  I thought melanoma always started in a skin lesion….very unsettling to say the least.  I hope you're doing well.

                Shannon

                • October 12, 2015 at 11:32 pm
                Shannon
                Participant

                  Thank you Sheila for your response.  That's scary,  you had no skin lesion but they found it in a lymph node???  I thought melanoma always started in a skin lesion….very unsettling to say the least.  I hope you're doing well.

                  Shannon

                  • October 12, 2015 at 11:32 pm
                  Shannon
                  Participant

                    Thank you Sheila for your response.  That's scary,  you had no skin lesion but they found it in a lymph node???  I thought melanoma always started in a skin lesion….very unsettling to say the least.  I hope you're doing well.

                    Shannon

                  • October 11, 2015 at 8:07 pm
                  brewgirl68
                  Participant

                    Hi there!

                    i just wanted to let you know that your post did go through. This site is very easy to navigate, but I think the spam issue has things a bit wonky.

                    i can't help you with the path report as I never had any skin lesions…I went straight past "Go" and found it in my lymph nodes. Rest assured that someone will jump in.

                    take care-

                    Sheila

                    • October 11, 2015 at 8:37 pm
                    Patina
                    Participant

                      Everyone has at least one a-typical mole. You shouldn't worry about this too much right now. Basically this report means that something was found. It was not melanoma. However, because it was classified as severe you need to make sure the margins are clear and you need to continue to do skin monitoring. 

                      You should find out IF there is a correlation between melanoma and severe cytologic atypia. You might be at greater risk for melanoma and thus need to keep up with skin checks.  

                      One thing to keep in mind is that it is better to be aware that there is a risk and get check rather than not. Getting melanoma is not inevitable and catching it at a early stage is far far easier to deal with than a later stage.  I wouldn't worry if I were you.

                      Tanning machine use before 35 increase the chance of melanoma by 75%. Average risk of melanoma is around 15%. That is a huge jump. – I'd suggest not tanning.

                       

                      • October 11, 2015 at 8:37 pm
                      Patina
                      Participant

                        Everyone has at least one a-typical mole. You shouldn't worry about this too much right now. Basically this report means that something was found. It was not melanoma. However, because it was classified as severe you need to make sure the margins are clear and you need to continue to do skin monitoring. 

                        You should find out IF there is a correlation between melanoma and severe cytologic atypia. You might be at greater risk for melanoma and thus need to keep up with skin checks.  

                        One thing to keep in mind is that it is better to be aware that there is a risk and get check rather than not. Getting melanoma is not inevitable and catching it at a early stage is far far easier to deal with than a later stage.  I wouldn't worry if I were you.

                        Tanning machine use before 35 increase the chance of melanoma by 75%. Average risk of melanoma is around 15%. That is a huge jump. – I'd suggest not tanning.

                         

                          • October 12, 2015 at 11:37 pm
                          Shannon
                          Participant

                            Thank you Patina for your reassurance.  Do you have any idea why some are classified as "mild atypia" and some are "severe"?  I know the difference is the mild has fewer weird cells than severe but I'm just wondering if it starts as mild and works its way up to severe or if it was just severe from the beginning.

                            I definitely did tanning in my late teens and early 20's, I don't have a huge amount of moles though, does more sun exposure create more moles?  I am fair skinned with blonde hair and blue eyes…..definitely should have thought ahead back then.

                            Shannon

                            • October 12, 2015 at 11:37 pm
                            Shannon
                            Participant

                              Thank you Patina for your reassurance.  Do you have any idea why some are classified as "mild atypia" and some are "severe"?  I know the difference is the mild has fewer weird cells than severe but I'm just wondering if it starts as mild and works its way up to severe or if it was just severe from the beginning.

                              I definitely did tanning in my late teens and early 20's, I don't have a huge amount of moles though, does more sun exposure create more moles?  I am fair skinned with blonde hair and blue eyes…..definitely should have thought ahead back then.

                              Shannon

                              • October 12, 2015 at 11:37 pm
                              Shannon
                              Participant

                                Thank you Patina for your reassurance.  Do you have any idea why some are classified as "mild atypia" and some are "severe"?  I know the difference is the mild has fewer weird cells than severe but I'm just wondering if it starts as mild and works its way up to severe or if it was just severe from the beginning.

                                I definitely did tanning in my late teens and early 20's, I don't have a huge amount of moles though, does more sun exposure create more moles?  I am fair skinned with blonde hair and blue eyes…..definitely should have thought ahead back then.

                                Shannon

                              • October 11, 2015 at 8:37 pm
                              Patina
                              Participant

                                Everyone has at least one a-typical mole. You shouldn't worry about this too much right now. Basically this report means that something was found. It was not melanoma. However, because it was classified as severe you need to make sure the margins are clear and you need to continue to do skin monitoring. 

                                You should find out IF there is a correlation between melanoma and severe cytologic atypia. You might be at greater risk for melanoma and thus need to keep up with skin checks.  

                                One thing to keep in mind is that it is better to be aware that there is a risk and get check rather than not. Getting melanoma is not inevitable and catching it at a early stage is far far easier to deal with than a later stage.  I wouldn't worry if I were you.

                                Tanning machine use before 35 increase the chance of melanoma by 75%. Average risk of melanoma is around 15%. That is a huge jump. – I'd suggest not tanning.

                                 

                                • October 12, 2015 at 3:52 am
                                Kim K
                                Participant

                                  You do not have melanoma.  Period.

                                  This mole had the potential to become melanoma but you caught it early.  The take home from this should be regular skin checks from here on out and ask for a scoop or puch biopsy on anything looking funny in the future.

                                  You got this early before it became cancerous.  It was an ugly looking mole, nothing more.  Great derm!

                                  • October 12, 2015 at 3:52 am
                                  Kim K
                                  Participant

                                    You do not have melanoma.  Period.

                                    This mole had the potential to become melanoma but you caught it early.  The take home from this should be regular skin checks from here on out and ask for a scoop or puch biopsy on anything looking funny in the future.

                                    You got this early before it became cancerous.  It was an ugly looking mole, nothing more.  Great derm!

                                      • October 12, 2015 at 11:43 pm
                                      Shannon
                                      Participant

                                        Thanks Kim,

                                        Yes, I'm very happy it's not melanoma but just the suspicion is scary enough.  They did a punch biopsy and the path report said clean margins, I don't know why they want to remove more tissue next month.  I hope nohting more becomes of this.  

                                        I am getting to know my skin very, very well these days and will never risk anything like this again.  I have gone to the derm every year for the last 10 years for full body scans, this was a new derm and I thought perhaps she was just being a little too vigilant…..obviously she knows a sketchy mole when she sees it.

                                        Thanks again,

                                        Shannon

                                        • October 12, 2015 at 11:43 pm
                                        Shannon
                                        Participant

                                          Thanks Kim,

                                          Yes, I'm very happy it's not melanoma but just the suspicion is scary enough.  They did a punch biopsy and the path report said clean margins, I don't know why they want to remove more tissue next month.  I hope nohting more becomes of this.  

                                          I am getting to know my skin very, very well these days and will never risk anything like this again.  I have gone to the derm every year for the last 10 years for full body scans, this was a new derm and I thought perhaps she was just being a little too vigilant…..obviously she knows a sketchy mole when she sees it.

                                          Thanks again,

                                          Shannon

                                          • October 12, 2015 at 11:43 pm
                                          Shannon
                                          Participant

                                            Thanks Kim,

                                            Yes, I'm very happy it's not melanoma but just the suspicion is scary enough.  They did a punch biopsy and the path report said clean margins, I don't know why they want to remove more tissue next month.  I hope nohting more becomes of this.  

                                            I am getting to know my skin very, very well these days and will never risk anything like this again.  I have gone to the derm every year for the last 10 years for full body scans, this was a new derm and I thought perhaps she was just being a little too vigilant…..obviously she knows a sketchy mole when she sees it.

                                            Thanks again,

                                            Shannon

                                          • October 12, 2015 at 3:52 am
                                          Kim K
                                          Participant

                                            You do not have melanoma.  Period.

                                            This mole had the potential to become melanoma but you caught it early.  The take home from this should be regular skin checks from here on out and ask for a scoop or puch biopsy on anything looking funny in the future.

                                            You got this early before it became cancerous.  It was an ugly looking mole, nothing more.  Great derm!

                                        Viewing 8 reply threads

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