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Melanoma in situ and have to wait 2.5 weeks for WLE?!
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Melanoma in situ and have to wait 2.5 weeks for WLE?!

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Melanoma in situ and have to wait 2.5 weeks for WLE?!

  • Post
    • October 25, 2013 at 7:24 pm
    parkmk80
    Participant

      My hubby was diagnosed with melanoma in situ on his back on Monday, Oct, 21, 2013.  They aren't doing the wle until November 4th!  I am defintely freakiing out for him.  Things can grow so fast and you just never know.  Does this seem normal to anyone?!  I am also pissed because they did a shave thinking it was a bcc or dn.  The path report came back with superficial margins so there is clearly  mel cells left behind.  This is beyond terrifying.  We have 2 little girls and a baby on the way.  🙁

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • October 25, 2013 at 9:33 pm
        SABKLYN
        Participant

          I don't think that's uncommon.  I had my biopsy in early October and didn't have the large excision and sentinel node biopsy until mid November.  

          • October 25, 2013 at 9:33 pm
          SABKLYN
          Participant

            I don't think that's uncommon.  I had my biopsy in early October and didn't have the large excision and sentinel node biopsy until mid November.  

              • October 26, 2013 at 12:09 am
              MichaelFL
              Participant

                Try to relax. Insitu means in place. It has no Breslow depth. It has not grown.

                2-3 weeks is common. Count your blessings as it has virtually a 100% survival rate.

                 

                • October 26, 2013 at 12:09 am
                MichaelFL
                Participant

                  Try to relax. Insitu means in place. It has no Breslow depth. It has not grown.

                  2-3 weeks is common. Count your blessings as it has virtually a 100% survival rate.

                   

                  • October 26, 2013 at 12:09 am
                  MichaelFL
                  Participant

                    Try to relax. Insitu means in place. It has no Breslow depth. It has not grown.

                    2-3 weeks is common. Count your blessings as it has virtually a 100% survival rate.

                     

                  • October 25, 2013 at 9:33 pm
                  SABKLYN
                  Participant

                    I don't think that's uncommon.  I had my biopsy in early October and didn't have the large excision and sentinel node biopsy until mid November.  

                    • October 26, 2013 at 12:16 am
                    Janner
                    Participant

                      Having the WLE within 90 days is considered medically acceptable.  Chances are, it was probably completely removed with the biopsy anyway.  I know it's stressful, but don't go there.  There are MANY people who've waited lots longer than 2.5 weeks for a WLE.  Melanoma in situ has a fantastic prognosis and this little bump in the road won't make any difference in the end.

                      Janner

                      • October 26, 2013 at 12:16 am
                      Janner
                      Participant

                        Having the WLE within 90 days is considered medically acceptable.  Chances are, it was probably completely removed with the biopsy anyway.  I know it's stressful, but don't go there.  There are MANY people who've waited lots longer than 2.5 weeks for a WLE.  Melanoma in situ has a fantastic prognosis and this little bump in the road won't make any difference in the end.

                        Janner

                          • October 26, 2013 at 12:31 am
                          Janner
                          Participant

                            I missed where you said there were "superficial margins".  Which?  Lateral or deep?  It makes a difference.  Otherwise, I stand by everything else I said.

                            • October 26, 2013 at 12:31 am
                            Janner
                            Participant

                              I missed where you said there were "superficial margins".  Which?  Lateral or deep?  It makes a difference.  Otherwise, I stand by everything else I said.

                              • October 26, 2013 at 1:27 am
                              parkmk80
                              Participant

                                The copy of the pathology report did not specify whether it was lateral or deep.  It was a pretty generic report. 

                                • October 26, 2013 at 1:27 am
                                parkmk80
                                Participant

                                  The copy of the pathology report did not specify whether it was lateral or deep.  It was a pretty generic report. 

                                  • October 26, 2013 at 3:25 am
                                  Janner
                                  Participant

                                    Could you post the exact report?  Superficial margins could just mean that you don't have wide enough margins but not that there are melanoma cells at the periphery.  Realistically, it doesn't matter because the WLE should take care of everything.  I'm more curious than anything.

                                     

                                    • October 26, 2013 at 3:25 am
                                    Janner
                                    Participant

                                      Could you post the exact report?  Superficial margins could just mean that you don't have wide enough margins but not that there are melanoma cells at the periphery.  Realistically, it doesn't matter because the WLE should take care of everything.  I'm more curious than anything.

                                       

                                      • October 26, 2013 at 2:49 pm
                                      parkmk80
                                      Participant

                                        MICRO:  Initial and level sections were examined.  Sections show an asymmetric, severely atypical junctional melanocytic proliferation with focally confluent lentiginous growth and varying degrees of atypical architecture (i.e. bridging of melanocyttes between elongated rete ridges, poor nesting, papillary dermal fibroplasia, "shouldering phenomenom," and lymphocytic response).  Immunohistochemical stains, with appropriately reactive contrrols, show that th eproliferation expresses S100 and MelanA strongly.  There are apparent dermal nests labeled; however examination of adjacent routine-stained sections show that they likley emanate directly from the epidermis.

                                        PATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS:  Malignant melanoma in-situ, present at superficial margin, arising in association with dysplastic nevus, skin, L. lateral back.

                                        • October 26, 2013 at 2:49 pm
                                        parkmk80
                                        Participant

                                          MICRO:  Initial and level sections were examined.  Sections show an asymmetric, severely atypical junctional melanocytic proliferation with focally confluent lentiginous growth and varying degrees of atypical architecture (i.e. bridging of melanocyttes between elongated rete ridges, poor nesting, papillary dermal fibroplasia, "shouldering phenomenom," and lymphocytic response).  Immunohistochemical stains, with appropriately reactive contrrols, show that th eproliferation expresses S100 and MelanA strongly.  There are apparent dermal nests labeled; however examination of adjacent routine-stained sections show that they likley emanate directly from the epidermis.

                                          PATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS:  Malignant melanoma in-situ, present at superficial margin, arising in association with dysplastic nevus, skin, L. lateral back.

                                          • October 26, 2013 at 6:33 pm
                                          parkmk80
                                          Participant

                                            Can you give me any insight?

                                            • October 26, 2013 at 6:33 pm
                                            parkmk80
                                            Participant

                                              Can you give me any insight?

                                              • October 26, 2013 at 6:33 pm
                                              parkmk80
                                              Participant

                                                Can you give me any insight?

                                                • October 27, 2013 at 2:09 am
                                                Janner
                                                Participant

                                                  So, this looks like an extremely low risk melanoma in situ lesion with melanoma present at a peripheral margin.  (That's better than at a deep margin).  Most times the WLE will not even show any melanoma in the WLE tissue.  I understand how worrying it is to have any type of cancer diagnosis – but if you have to have one, this lesion is the one to have. 

                                                  For the future, I would watch for any other moles that CHANGE.  Practice sun safety and go on and LIVE LIFE!

                                                  Janner

                                                  • October 27, 2013 at 2:09 am
                                                  Janner
                                                  Participant

                                                    So, this looks like an extremely low risk melanoma in situ lesion with melanoma present at a peripheral margin.  (That's better than at a deep margin).  Most times the WLE will not even show any melanoma in the WLE tissue.  I understand how worrying it is to have any type of cancer diagnosis – but if you have to have one, this lesion is the one to have. 

                                                    For the future, I would watch for any other moles that CHANGE.  Practice sun safety and go on and LIVE LIFE!

                                                    Janner

                                                    • October 27, 2013 at 2:09 am
                                                    Janner
                                                    Participant

                                                      So, this looks like an extremely low risk melanoma in situ lesion with melanoma present at a peripheral margin.  (That's better than at a deep margin).  Most times the WLE will not even show any melanoma in the WLE tissue.  I understand how worrying it is to have any type of cancer diagnosis – but if you have to have one, this lesion is the one to have. 

                                                      For the future, I would watch for any other moles that CHANGE.  Practice sun safety and go on and LIVE LIFE!

                                                      Janner

                                                      • October 26, 2013 at 2:49 pm
                                                      parkmk80
                                                      Participant

                                                        MICRO:  Initial and level sections were examined.  Sections show an asymmetric, severely atypical junctional melanocytic proliferation with focally confluent lentiginous growth and varying degrees of atypical architecture (i.e. bridging of melanocyttes between elongated rete ridges, poor nesting, papillary dermal fibroplasia, "shouldering phenomenom," and lymphocytic response).  Immunohistochemical stains, with appropriately reactive contrrols, show that th eproliferation expresses S100 and MelanA strongly.  There are apparent dermal nests labeled; however examination of adjacent routine-stained sections show that they likley emanate directly from the epidermis.

                                                        PATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS:  Malignant melanoma in-situ, present at superficial margin, arising in association with dysplastic nevus, skin, L. lateral back.

                                                        • October 26, 2013 at 3:25 am
                                                        Janner
                                                        Participant

                                                          Could you post the exact report?  Superficial margins could just mean that you don't have wide enough margins but not that there are melanoma cells at the periphery.  Realistically, it doesn't matter because the WLE should take care of everything.  I'm more curious than anything.

                                                           

                                                          • October 26, 2013 at 1:27 am
                                                          parkmk80
                                                          Participant

                                                            The copy of the pathology report did not specify whether it was lateral or deep.  It was a pretty generic report. 

                                                            • October 26, 2013 at 12:31 am
                                                            Janner
                                                            Participant

                                                              I missed where you said there were "superficial margins".  Which?  Lateral or deep?  It makes a difference.  Otherwise, I stand by everything else I said.

                                                            • October 26, 2013 at 12:16 am
                                                            Janner
                                                            Participant

                                                              Having the WLE within 90 days is considered medically acceptable.  Chances are, it was probably completely removed with the biopsy anyway.  I know it's stressful, but don't go there.  There are MANY people who've waited lots longer than 2.5 weeks for a WLE.  Melanoma in situ has a fantastic prognosis and this little bump in the road won't make any difference in the end.

                                                              Janner

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