New Daignose

Don't put the cart before the horse.  First off, there is no way that the surgeon will say he is stage IV at this point – that is a long process and the surgeon will not have that info.  The very first thing you need to do is get a copy of the pathology report.  You NEED to know the depth of the lesion.  That information alone is instrumental in determining the next step.  If the depth is over .8mm deep, then you are going to want to ask for a SLNB (sentinel lymph node biopsy) BEFORE they remove more tissue (called the WLE – wide local excision).  The order is important.  If you are seeing a surgeon who is used to doing melanoma surgeries, this will most likely be how he proceeds.  But it never hurts to ask the questions! 

The depth determines the initial staging.  If the initial depth determines that the SLNB needed, the SLNB results may update the staging.  And if the SLNB results were to be positive, additional measures may be taken to continue to determine staging.  You need to take this one step at a time and not jump to just any story on the internet.  There is an entire process to the diagnosis of melanoma and your husband is only at the first step.  Getting a copy of his report will allow you to educate yourself on the important details in your husband's case.  Everyone is different and just reading willy nilly stories about melanoma on the internet will not be helpful.  Just take the step by step approach and research things pertinent to his current status.  Feel free to ask questions but there is only so much info we can give without knowing more about the initial lesion details.

Hi Jennifer!!! The previous reply is exactly right…the internet gives you the worst case scenarios every time…it’s hard not to start googling and researching when you hear “ melanoma” . Trust me…we are only 3 months in to this new challenge in our lives and we are not still fully “staged”….it takes time to sort it all out. Get used to the term “2 weeks” because that’s all you will seem to hear for awhile after any testing or biopsies for the most part.  The pathology reports will give you a lot of info…and that you can research on the internet as to what each item means…that was helpful to me so when we met with the doctors I had an understanding of what each tumor characteristic meant and how we approach each and every step along the way.  The people in here are amazing…I just recently joined self and I wish I would have done it months ago…sharing info with people that have or currently are going through the same as you is extremely helpful !!!!!  Try not to let your mind wander..easier said  than done of course. When you need a moment to cry …take it!!!  This is an emotional roller coaster…I am constantly worried for my child…he is only 17 and going through this is not what you are supposed to do at his age, or any age for that matter. It just sucks…but there is more hope than I ever imagined when he was first diagnosed!!!!  Hang in there..take one day at a time!!!! Kelly 🙂

Keep in mind that while SLNB is standard step for staging, but don't get fooled if it comes negative, get scans anyway because mets could spread already.