new diagnosis

Hi,

Sorry you are here. I know it can be scary and bewildering to have a diagnosis of melanoma.

Without tip toeing around too much , there are a number of factors here that are not the most favourable.

The initial biopsy showed quite a deep lesion, and the bleeding/ulceration is a sign that the lesion was changing and evolving. The concave incision sounds like the surgeon has taken sufficient tissue to ensure good clear margins.

I would not be disturbed by the pathologist seeking further advice . Occasionally findings are hard to diiferentiate although normally diagnosis of melanoma is based on a combination of viewing a slice under the microscope to identify cells by the look and also by immunohistological staining- do the samples test positive for Mart 1 or s100, If melanoma cells are found in the nodes . A short delay when the sentinnel nodes have already been removed to get accurate information is worth the wait as future treatment will be driven by the staging this supplies. Does your son have any tatoos by the way- the ink sometimes shows up in lymph nodes and the colour points to melanoma but as it is ink- the pathology stains don't support this. Just might be causing problems ? ( Yes – have been a bit of a melanoma research geek this last year)

This is a trusted site from the UK with lots of basic info. Please don't look at survival stats as they are out of date with the new treatments.

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/melanoma/treatment/stages-of-melanoma

Next bit- if the melanoma is stage 3 – you might consider treatment at a specialized centre where they are up to date and deal with melanoma all the time as the pace of change in treatments and thinking is changing all the time- and those centres are better equipped to identify and treat side effects of immunotherapy etc promptly.

Hope this helps you to put this in to a bit of context,

Best wishes to you , Ken and the rest of your family

Deb

Hi,

Sorry you are here. I know it can be scary and bewildering to have a diagnosis of melanoma.

Without tip toeing around too much , there are a number of factors here that are not the most favourable.

The initial biopsy showed quite a deep lesion, and the bleeding/ulceration is a sign that the lesion was changing and evolving. The concave incision sounds like the surgeon has taken sufficient tissue to ensure good clear margins.

I would not be disturbed by the pathologist seeking further advice . Occasionally findings are hard to diiferentiate although normally diagnosis of melanoma is based on a combination of viewing a slice under the microscope to identify cells by the look and also by immunohistological staining- do the samples test positive for Mart 1 or s100, If melanoma cells are found in the nodes . A short delay when the sentinnel nodes have already been removed to get accurate information is worth the wait as future treatment will be driven by the staging this supplies. Does your son have any tatoos by the way- the ink sometimes shows up in lymph nodes and the colour points to melanoma but as it is ink- the pathology stains don't support this. Just might be causing problems ? ( Yes – have been a bit of a melanoma research geek this last year)

This is a trusted site from the UK with lots of basic info. Please don't look at survival stats as they are out of date with the new treatments.

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/melanoma/treatment/stages-of-melanoma

Next bit- if the melanoma is stage 3 – you might consider treatment at a specialized centre where they are up to date and deal with melanoma all the time as the pace of change in treatments and thinking is changing all the time- and those centres are better equipped to identify and treat side effects of immunotherapy etc promptly.

Hope this helps you to put this in to a bit of context,

Best wishes to you , Ken and the rest of your family

Deb

Hi,

Sorry you are here. I know it can be scary and bewildering to have a diagnosis of melanoma.

Without tip toeing around too much , there are a number of factors here that are not the most favourable.

The initial biopsy showed quite a deep lesion, and the bleeding/ulceration is a sign that the lesion was changing and evolving. The concave incision sounds like the surgeon has taken sufficient tissue to ensure good clear margins.

I would not be disturbed by the pathologist seeking further advice . Occasionally findings are hard to diiferentiate although normally diagnosis of melanoma is based on a combination of viewing a slice under the microscope to identify cells by the look and also by immunohistological staining- do the samples test positive for Mart 1 or s100, If melanoma cells are found in the nodes . A short delay when the sentinnel nodes have already been removed to get accurate information is worth the wait as future treatment will be driven by the staging this supplies. Does your son have any tatoos by the way- the ink sometimes shows up in lymph nodes and the colour points to melanoma but as it is ink- the pathology stains don't support this. Just might be causing problems ? ( Yes – have been a bit of a melanoma research geek this last year)

This is a trusted site from the UK with lots of basic info. Please don't look at survival stats as they are out of date with the new treatments.

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/melanoma/treatment/stages-of-melanoma

Next bit- if the melanoma is stage 3 – you might consider treatment at a specialized centre where they are up to date and deal with melanoma all the time as the pace of change in treatments and thinking is changing all the time- and those centres are better equipped to identify and treat side effects of immunotherapy etc promptly.

Hope this helps you to put this in to a bit of context,

Best wishes to you , Ken and the rest of your family

Deb

Hi Ken's Mom,

The short version is the Dr. has nothing to say right now and for many, the waiting game can be frustrating.  The wide excision was completed with what sounds like sufficient margins so the mel in that area should be gone.  The testing of lymph node involvement (or not) will determine Stage and  next steps.  Nodes positive, some form of Stage 3 and likely a PET and/or CT scan to see if there's spread to distant areas, and time to switch doctors and find a melanoma specialist.  No involvement, I'm not sure but I think the treatments for under Stage 3 are mostly watch (monitor with periodic scans) and wait.  Hoping for the best, and once you know, the folks here can give you lots of info and support.

Gary

Hi Ken's Mom,

The short version is the Dr. has nothing to say right now and for many, the waiting game can be frustrating.  The wide excision was completed with what sounds like sufficient margins so the mel in that area should be gone.  The testing of lymph node involvement (or not) will determine Stage and  next steps.  Nodes positive, some form of Stage 3 and likely a PET and/or CT scan to see if there's spread to distant areas, and time to switch doctors and find a melanoma specialist.  No involvement, I'm not sure but I think the treatments for under Stage 3 are mostly watch (monitor with periodic scans) and wait.  Hoping for the best, and once you know, the folks here can give you lots of info and support.

Gary

Hi Ken's Mom,

The short version is the Dr. has nothing to say right now and for many, the waiting game can be frustrating.  The wide excision was completed with what sounds like sufficient margins so the mel in that area should be gone.  The testing of lymph node involvement (or not) will determine Stage and  next steps.  Nodes positive, some form of Stage 3 and likely a PET and/or CT scan to see if there's spread to distant areas, and time to switch doctors and find a melanoma specialist.  No involvement, I'm not sure but I think the treatments for under Stage 3 are mostly watch (monitor with periodic scans) and wait.  Hoping for the best, and once you know, the folks here can give you lots of info and support.

Gary