LDH results – is it truly good news?
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LDH results – is it truly good news?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › LDH results – is it truly good news?

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    • January 27, 2018 at 12:11 am
    Sally Jackman
    Participant

      I had WLE and SLNB 3 weeks ago, and cancer cells were found in lymph nodes at groin. Tumor site is calf.  I finally have insurance approval for PET scan which is scheduled for this coming Monday 1/29/18. Two days ago I got my WLE stitches out, and I asked about two things that seem to be important – LDH blood test results and the Mitotic Rate. My surgical oncologist says that the results on both of these are NORMAL. 

      That's good news, isn't it?  I know I'll have a much better picture after the PET scan Monday, and I'm guessing it'll take several days to learn results.  But do any of you know if I have a legitimate reason to feel optomistic based on those two pieces of data?  

       

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        • January 27, 2018 at 3:20 am
        ed williams
        Participant

          Hi Sjack, staging is a tough time for everybody, and depending what you have read online it can get down right scary!!! It is like time stands still, and every result takes forever. You are right to celebrate low LDH and low mitotic rate, take a win anytime you can get one. For patients that are more advanced than you are, low LDH and low Tumour  burden generally have better outcomes. Good luck with the staging,if you don't mind me asking what was the results of Sentinal node biopsy and how deep was the primary tumour on your leg? Best wishes!!!Ed

            • January 27, 2018 at 3:07 pm
            Sally Jackman
            Participant

              Hi Ed, thanks for replying! 

              My tumor site was a mole on left calf. I believe the depth was 1.3 mm. And if this matters, after the WLE they said the tumor margin was CLEAR.  I read somewhere that Stage III melanoma, the depth of the melanoma no longer matters. As for the sentinal node biopsy, they did find "a small amount" of cancer cells in the node removed for the procedure.  I suppose they may want to go back in and remove all of the nodes from the groin nodal basin, depending on what the PET scan results are.  Oh, one more smallish item–after the WLE the doctor said that the margins where clear. What do you think?

              All best, 

              Sally

              • January 27, 2018 at 5:08 pm
              ed williams
              Participant

                Take  a look at this link to a surgeon at University of Michigan giving a presentation about pros and cons of doing CLND's. The video is current and balanced in my opinion!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_T186r5gIE   

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