Just Diagnoised
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Just Diagnoised

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Just Diagnoised

  • Post
    • January 3, 2015 at 2:12 am
    PhilGrey
    Participant

      I was just told by my dermatologist that a biopsy that they took should some very early signs of melanoma.  They mentioned that they are going to do a surgery of 5mm or something around the area and stitch it up.

      My question is.  What is early stages?  He mentioned it was a little odd due to my age unless it was caused by sun damage (which I would assume is the cause – i've been sunburned quite a bit.)

      The earliest I was able to schedule was in 3 weeks.  Is there anything I should be aware of or should I call the doctor for more information, etc.?

      That's all.

      Staying positive.

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • January 3, 2015 at 2:50 am
        StephyD83
        Participant
          It sounds like you may have Melanoma In Situ which would require 5 mm margins. I would suggest you obtain a copy of the pathology report so you can be sure. Good luck!!
          • January 3, 2015 at 2:50 am
          StephyD83
          Participant
            It sounds like you may have Melanoma In Situ which would require 5 mm margins. I would suggest you obtain a copy of the pathology report so you can be sure. Good luck!!
              • January 3, 2015 at 2:57 am
              PhilGrey
              Participant

                Okay.  Thanks for the info.  The 5 mm margin sound familiar to what he tod me.  I'll call on monday to get a copy of the pathology report.

                 

                Thanks.

                • January 3, 2015 at 2:57 am
                PhilGrey
                Participant

                  Okay.  Thanks for the info.  The 5 mm margin sound familiar to what he tod me.  I'll call on monday to get a copy of the pathology report.

                   

                  Thanks.

                  • January 3, 2015 at 2:57 am
                  PhilGrey
                  Participant

                    Okay.  Thanks for the info.  The 5 mm margin sound familiar to what he tod me.  I'll call on monday to get a copy of the pathology report.

                     

                    Thanks.

                  • January 3, 2015 at 2:50 am
                  StephyD83
                  Participant
                    It sounds like you may have Melanoma In Situ which would require 5 mm margins. I would suggest you obtain a copy of the pathology report so you can be sure. Good luck!!
                    • January 3, 2015 at 2:54 am
                    Janner
                    Participant

                      Sounds like severely atypical or melanoma in situ. Both are typically excised with 5mm margins.  I'd ask for a copy of your pathology report to confirm.  Melanoma is the number 1 or 2 CANCER for people in their 20s.  You don't state your age or gender, but there are plenty of young people who get this.  As for waiting three weeks, that is fairly typical and waiting doesn't affect prognosis.  Your pathology report will confirm you caught this early with a good prognosis.

                      • January 3, 2015 at 2:54 am
                      Janner
                      Participant

                        Sounds like severely atypical or melanoma in situ. Both are typically excised with 5mm margins.  I'd ask for a copy of your pathology report to confirm.  Melanoma is the number 1 or 2 CANCER for people in their 20s.  You don't state your age or gender, but there are plenty of young people who get this.  As for waiting three weeks, that is fairly typical and waiting doesn't affect prognosis.  Your pathology report will confirm you caught this early with a good prognosis.

                          • January 3, 2015 at 4:07 pm
                          PhilGrey
                          Participant

                            I'm a 32 male.  It sounds like from your comments that this would be the best case scenario for melanoma diagnosis?  I've read other posts saying to get scanned (PET Scan/MRI) for other instances, should I look into that as a precautionary measure?

                            • January 3, 2015 at 4:07 pm
                            PhilGrey
                            Participant

                              I'm a 32 male.  It sounds like from your comments that this would be the best case scenario for melanoma diagnosis?  I've read other posts saying to get scanned (PET Scan/MRI) for other instances, should I look into that as a precautionary measure?

                              • January 3, 2015 at 4:49 pm
                              CHD
                              Participant

                                A pre-melanoma or melanoma in situ is not deep enough to be invasive, so yes it is the best case scenario.  If it isn't invasive, there is no need for a PET/CT.

                                • January 3, 2015 at 4:49 pm
                                CHD
                                Participant

                                  A pre-melanoma or melanoma in situ is not deep enough to be invasive, so yes it is the best case scenario.  If it isn't invasive, there is no need for a PET/CT.

                                  • January 3, 2015 at 4:49 pm
                                  CHD
                                  Participant

                                    A pre-melanoma or melanoma in situ is not deep enough to be invasive, so yes it is the best case scenario.  If it isn't invasive, there is no need for a PET/CT.

                                    • January 3, 2015 at 5:31 pm
                                    Janner
                                    Participant

                                      PET/CT would be of no use.  Melanoma in situ is confined to the epidermis only.  There are no blood vessels or lymph vessels in the epidermis so no real way for melanoma to spread.  Surgical removal with margins is the only treatment needed. Scans wouldn't be warranted (or paid for by insurance) and scans don't show microscopic disease.  This is stage 0, so early that it isn't really on the cancer scale.  The only thing I might suggest is asking for larger margins based on the abstract below.  Since surgery is the only treatment, it makes sense to err on the side of caution.  You'll have a bigger scar, but join the club.

                                      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22196979

                                       

                                      • January 3, 2015 at 5:31 pm
                                      Janner
                                      Participant

                                        PET/CT would be of no use.  Melanoma in situ is confined to the epidermis only.  There are no blood vessels or lymph vessels in the epidermis so no real way for melanoma to spread.  Surgical removal with margins is the only treatment needed. Scans wouldn't be warranted (or paid for by insurance) and scans don't show microscopic disease.  This is stage 0, so early that it isn't really on the cancer scale.  The only thing I might suggest is asking for larger margins based on the abstract below.  Since surgery is the only treatment, it makes sense to err on the side of caution.  You'll have a bigger scar, but join the club.

                                        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22196979

                                         

                                        • January 3, 2015 at 5:31 pm
                                        Janner
                                        Participant

                                          PET/CT would be of no use.  Melanoma in situ is confined to the epidermis only.  There are no blood vessels or lymph vessels in the epidermis so no real way for melanoma to spread.  Surgical removal with margins is the only treatment needed. Scans wouldn't be warranted (or paid for by insurance) and scans don't show microscopic disease.  This is stage 0, so early that it isn't really on the cancer scale.  The only thing I might suggest is asking for larger margins based on the abstract below.  Since surgery is the only treatment, it makes sense to err on the side of caution.  You'll have a bigger scar, but join the club.

                                          http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22196979

                                           

                                          • January 3, 2015 at 4:07 pm
                                          PhilGrey
                                          Participant

                                            I'm a 32 male.  It sounds like from your comments that this would be the best case scenario for melanoma diagnosis?  I've read other posts saying to get scanned (PET Scan/MRI) for other instances, should I look into that as a precautionary measure?

                                          • January 3, 2015 at 2:54 am
                                          Janner
                                          Participant

                                            Sounds like severely atypical or melanoma in situ. Both are typically excised with 5mm margins.  I'd ask for a copy of your pathology report to confirm.  Melanoma is the number 1 or 2 CANCER for people in their 20s.  You don't state your age or gender, but there are plenty of young people who get this.  As for waiting three weeks, that is fairly typical and waiting doesn't affect prognosis.  Your pathology report will confirm you caught this early with a good prognosis.

                                        Viewing 5 reply threads
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