Just call me Impatient

Ugh!  So sorry you have to be here!  And sorry you had a shave biopsy instead of a punch (or surgical) biopsy, because either of those would have given you more information, as true depth is fairly important.  However, you can only move forward from here, right?  The good news is that you are getting your WLE (wide local excision) and your SLNB at the same time, which is definitely the right way to go.  Until you know about the sentinel node, there really isn't anything else to do.  Only if that is positive do you need (or will insurance pay for) additional imaging.  If it's clear, you will more than likely just need to heal up, and then have checkups every three months for the next year.  If the node shows metastasis, then you will probably get a PET scan and maybe a brain MRI.  

Let's hope for a clean SLNB, and then an easy recovery!  That's a highly probable outcome!

Melanoma can spread to your internal organs.  The risk of spread increases with the depth of the tumor. Melanoma of any depth needs to be completely excised.  It is recommended that patients with melanomas deeper than .75mm have a SLNB (lymph node biopsy) which is performed at the same time as the excission.  

I know you said you had your place for years.  I did as well.  Melanoma can present itself within an existing mole so the ‘spot’ you had may or may not have been melanoma 2 years ago. Some melanomas are slow growing and some are very aggressive. 

At your depth, it would be wise for you to consult an oncologist who specializes in melanoma. Once the results of the SNLB are received they will stage you and from there plan a course of action.  Depending your stage, they may suggest a PET scan.  Without a doubt, you will have follow up derm appts every 3-6 months for a couple years at least.  You may also have follow up oncology appts.  All this depends on your stage and confirmed depth of tumor after excission.  

You will find a lot of knowledgeable people on here.  My personal experience is limited to stage 1b..no snlb or treatments. First find a dr well educated in melanoma, get that tumor out, ck the sentinel lymph node and determine your stage.  From that point you will know more about what plan of action you will need to follow.

Prays and best of luck to you!

Dear Jenn,

Welcome!  I glad you found us, though not glad you have to join us.  I trust you'll find this board a place of support and information about melanoma.  I sure have.

While waiting sucks (everyone agrees!!!)  what you have described sounds very normal and many people here will tell a similar story as it's the gold standard of care.

The current standard of care goes something like this:

biopsy -wait for results
Sentinel Node Biopsy and /or Wide Local Excision – wait for results
Pet / CT Scans – wait for results
then if No evidence of disease, watch and wait or adjuvant treatment .  If further evidence of disease, treatment – often times immunotherapy.

I'm not a medical doctor, but you are at least stage 2.  That may change depending on the results of your lymph node biopsy. 

Not Googling is a good idea.  Much of the info out there is very, very old and depressing. But do educate yourself. Celeste (Bubbles here on this board) has put together a wonderful Melanoma Primer.  Also the Understand Melanoma link above is a another great place to start.

I too have never felt sick because of melanoma (or lung cancer for that matter) and this is a good thing.  By the time you start feeling the effects of the disease, it's advanced and much harder to kick. 

One piece of advice– make sure you are seen by a melanoma specialist.  That is someone who sees melanoma daily.  The field has changed radically in the last few years and general oncologists usually don't keep up as fast as a specialist will.  If you need help finding a Mel Doc, post a question here and in your title say where you're looking.

It's a lot to take in and you're still in the staging process.  It's very ok to be angry.  Your world as you knew it changed and it's not what anyone would choose.  In addition, Mel doesn't play fair. But it's possible to get the upper hand.  

Wishing you peace!

Julie

Hi JennH, well, welcome to MRF!! your in good hands at the very least for moral, medical translation, and sometimes spiritual support, and add opinions to, alotta of us have either “tried” or currently are, taking great meds & or procedures..
Sorry for the LONG wait you had for your biopsy report, seems VERY long (usually comes in a few days later) but, were past that..
I can speak on behalf of your statement saying quote:” But I Am Not Sick!” Unquote..believe me, Melanoma at this point in yer life is just getting started (not to scare you) Melanoma’s effects are caused by it ravaging our vital organs, not just planted there in our bums or “arse” as you folks put it also! Lol..when you hear the term “Skin Cancer” to me thats NOT Melanoma, Melanoma is Cancer of EVERYTHING IN OR ON YOUR BODY not just “skin”…for example “mwah” (me) its in my lungs, its effecting my breathing & blood supply..like our sisters here Susan, An8 & my SoCal sistah Julie said, that Lymphnode Bio will be your money maker, fingers crossed! Youll be fine regardless, alotta of us here have been stage 3 and 4 for a long time! Current, great meds & surgery keeps us alive!!. Good luck & keep us posted!

Hi JennH. I was also recently diagnosed with spitzoid. It is confusing, and there is not much information out there. Mine was on my arm, also told it was nothing, insisted on removal, and it was an atypical spitzoid, treating as melonoma since at my age (44) spitzoid is most likely melnaoma.  I was not given a sentinal node biopsy, so I wait and worry.  I hope that everything turns out well for you and that you get some good answers. A piece of advice I got from one doctor was to focus on the "melanoma" portion of the diagnosis and not the "spitzoid" portion because I was also driving myself nuts trying to figure it all out.  Hang in there, and keep us posted.