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Initial diagnosis: possible melanoma – go to Sloan?
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Initial diagnosis: possible melanoma – go to Sloan?

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Initial diagnosis: possible melanoma – go to Sloan?

  • Post
    • January 29, 2020 at 4:19 pm
    snootyusher
    Participant
      Just got off the phone with my dermatologist. The report came back as possibly melanoma in situ. She confirmed she did a deep shave, getting some of the dermis. The main pathologist & a few others reviewed the biopsy and they agree there is “something” atypical in a pre-existing mole, but that they do not think it is anything more than in-situ.

      The deep shave did not get the entire mole apparently, so the next step is a wide excision to get clear margins. She said that there’s no need to check the lymph nodes. In my prior post I noted that they’re very swollen, but after doing more research I’m wondering if they’re muscle knots/trigger points. I really can’t tell.

      My derm was trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering in Mohs Surgery, so she is certainly well-qualified to perform the WLE, but I’m considering going to Sloan anyway (if they’ll take me – it’s not sure if a possible melanoma-in-situ will qualify me for their services).

      Does anyone know if Sloan would take me? If I go with my derm, I can get this done tomorrow. Sloan will need some time to get the samples & review themselves – and even then they might not take me.

      Also just want to say I am very grateful to those who replied to my other post. Even though I didn’t get a 100% clean diagnosis – and I still have more to do – I feel at least some sense of relief.

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    • Replies
        • January 29, 2020 at 5:55 pm
        snootyusher
        Participant
          I decided it’s ridiculous to wait to get samples sent to MSKCC, then reviewed, then decide whether or not to see me for what is hopefully not even truly cancer. I’ve scheduled the excision with my dermatologist for tomorrow afternoon (back of neck, just below hairline).

          Oh, and I think I forgot to say – the diagnosis came back as atypical intraepidermal melanocytic proliferation, arising in association with a compound dysplastic nevus. The pathologist goes on to say that they can’t rule out early malignant melanoma in situ, so therefore I need the WLE.

            • January 29, 2020 at 6:00 pm
            alysoy
            Participant
              Fantastic news! Regardless, it sounds like you’ll just need to have the WLE and then hopefully never have to worry about it ever again!! (fingers crossed, get those skins checks!)
              • January 30, 2020 at 1:54 am
              snootyusher
              Participant
                Thanks alysoy. I am definitely breathing a sigh of relief, but yeah – hopefully the WLE confirms the pathology report. After I’m healed up I’m definitely bringing up these hard knots in my neck with my primary care physician to put that concern to rest. And also buying a handheld mirror so I can do my own checks in between my regular derm exams.

                Wishing you good luck with your results.

              • January 30, 2020 at 1:28 am
              BillB
              Participant
                Hi, I get my treatment at Sloan, wouldn’t choose to go anywhere else in the northeast. With that said, if you live anywhere close I would go there. They will be able to treat all aspects of melanoma, not just a WLE. From the time I called them initially to having surgery was 8 days. In that time frame I met with my oncologist, surgeon and plastic surgeon. I travel from Syracuse NY and wouldn’t go any where else.
                Bill
                  • January 30, 2020 at 2:02 am
                  snootyusher
                  Participant
                    Hi Bill – I am an NYC local, so very close to MSK. Given that all I need is WLE (fingers crossed), and that my derm could perform it in 24 hours after the pathology report, I figured let me just get it over with. Hopefully the WLE confirms that it’s not even in situ. Thank you for your thoughts though. And I checked your recent posts – congrats on being over 2 years NED and wishing you a lifetime of NED.
                    • January 30, 2020 at 4:20 am
                    BillB
                    Participant
                      Thank you, Good Luck.
                      Bill
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