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New Diagnosis- Need Help with understanding!

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › New Diagnosis- Need Help with understanding!

  • Post
    • January 27, 2015 at 11:58 pm
    vince1962
    Participant

      Final Diagnosis [Microsopic]:  Right axilla, biopsy- A.Metastatic melignant neoplasm involving lymph node, immunohistochemically consistent with metastatic melanoma. An infiltrate of malignant cells that show strong positivity for S100 and SOX-10 is identified.  Can someone please help me with this as far as what stage this might be! I have no clue what all this means.

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    • Replies
        • January 28, 2015 at 11:37 am
        Kmiles
        Participant

          Agree probably 3a.  I am a 3a as well.  I have had my complete lymph node dissection after the SLND was positive on both sides.  My right side showed a 3mm tumor.  The left was 1mm.  My complete showed no additional cancer.  I wish you good luck if you do the complete node dissection and I wish you no additional cancer.  

          • January 28, 2015 at 11:37 am
          Kmiles
          Participant

            Agree probably 3a.  I am a 3a as well.  I have had my complete lymph node dissection after the SLND was positive on both sides.  My right side showed a 3mm tumor.  The left was 1mm.  My complete showed no additional cancer.  I wish you good luck if you do the complete node dissection and I wish you no additional cancer.  

            • January 28, 2015 at 11:37 am
            Kmiles
            Participant

              Agree probably 3a.  I am a 3a as well.  I have had my complete lymph node dissection after the SLND was positive on both sides.  My right side showed a 3mm tumor.  The left was 1mm.  My complete showed no additional cancer.  I wish you good luck if you do the complete node dissection and I wish you no additional cancer.  

                • January 28, 2015 at 2:58 pm
                vince1962
                Participant

                  This was not a SLND my lymph nodes under my arm are the size of a lemon, and have been for about 18 months! This is not the primary, We believe that the primary is on my back, have a mole that bleeds alot and about six inches from the mole is a nodule about the size of a quarter thats red and itches like crazy, being that the nodes are not the primary won,t that make a differance in the stage?

                  • January 28, 2015 at 5:04 pm
                  Janner
                  Participant

                    WIth an unknown primary, it is assumed that the primary was "local" to that lymph node basin.   Stage III is assumed.  With a primary on your back and involved lymph nodes under the arm, that is again local to that lymph basin or considered "regional" disease — also stage III.  No assuming where the primary is.  It moves to stage IV when you go beyond the local lymph node basin or it is seen in organs or other areas of the body.

                    • January 28, 2015 at 5:04 pm
                    Janner
                    Participant

                      WIth an unknown primary, it is assumed that the primary was "local" to that lymph node basin.   Stage III is assumed.  With a primary on your back and involved lymph nodes under the arm, that is again local to that lymph basin or considered "regional" disease — also stage III.  No assuming where the primary is.  It moves to stage IV when you go beyond the local lymph node basin or it is seen in organs or other areas of the body.

                      • January 28, 2015 at 8:10 pm
                      vince1962
                      Participant

                        Why is it when you type in metastatic malignant melanoma in the search bar on this site its all about stage 4 

                        • January 28, 2015 at 8:10 pm
                        vince1962
                        Participant

                          Why is it when you type in metastatic malignant melanoma in the search bar on this site its all about stage 4 

                          • January 28, 2015 at 8:34 pm
                          Janner
                          Participant

                            Probably because there isn't much in the way of treatment options for stage III.  It's metastatic at stage III or stage IV.  Local at stage 0/1/2.

                            • January 28, 2015 at 8:34 pm
                            Janner
                            Participant

                              Probably because there isn't much in the way of treatment options for stage III.  It's metastatic at stage III or stage IV.  Local at stage 0/1/2.

                              • January 28, 2015 at 8:52 pm
                              vince1962
                              Participant

                                Oh ok, just want to say thank you all for the comments to the questions I have

                                • January 28, 2015 at 8:52 pm
                                vince1962
                                Participant

                                  Oh ok, just want to say thank you all for the comments to the questions I have

                                  • March 10, 2015 at 1:26 am
                                  Kristen
                                  Participant
                                    Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, tand not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
                                    • March 10, 2015 at 1:26 am
                                    Kristen
                                    Participant
                                      Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, tand not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
                                      • March 10, 2015 at 1:26 am
                                      Kristen
                                      Participant
                                        Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, tand not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
                                        • March 10, 2015 at 1:28 am
                                        Kristen
                                        Participant
                                          Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, and not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
                                          • March 10, 2015 at 1:28 am
                                          Kristen
                                          Participant
                                            Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, and not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
                                            • March 10, 2015 at 1:28 am
                                            Kristen
                                            Participant
                                              Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, and not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
                                              • March 10, 2015 at 1:29 am
                                              Kristen
                                              Participant
                                                Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, and not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
                                                • March 10, 2015 at 1:29 am
                                                Kristen
                                                Participant
                                                  Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, and not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
                                                  • March 10, 2015 at 1:29 am
                                                  Kristen
                                                  Participant
                                                    Hi Vince. If they only found a few microscopic nodes in your sentinel node, and not anywhere else, you would be 3a. Make sure you research microscopic mode ininvolvement. Studies have shown that your prognosis is better with minimal lymph node involvement. I am also the same stage. I had a pet scan and also a node dissection that were both clear. Make sure you educate yourself as much as possible. Your prognosis is better than 3a with macro involvement. Let me know if you have any questions. I can send you some things I have researched.
                                                    • January 28, 2015 at 8:52 pm
                                                    vince1962
                                                    Participant

                                                      Oh ok, just want to say thank you all for the comments to the questions I have

                                                      • January 28, 2015 at 8:34 pm
                                                      Janner
                                                      Participant

                                                        Probably because there isn't much in the way of treatment options for stage III.  It's metastatic at stage III or stage IV.  Local at stage 0/1/2.

                                                        • January 28, 2015 at 8:10 pm
                                                        vince1962
                                                        Participant

                                                          Why is it when you type in metastatic malignant melanoma in the search bar on this site its all about stage 4 

                                                          • January 28, 2015 at 5:04 pm
                                                          Janner
                                                          Participant

                                                            WIth an unknown primary, it is assumed that the primary was "local" to that lymph node basin.   Stage III is assumed.  With a primary on your back and involved lymph nodes under the arm, that is again local to that lymph basin or considered "regional" disease — also stage III.  No assuming where the primary is.  It moves to stage IV when you go beyond the local lymph node basin or it is seen in organs or other areas of the body.

                                                            • January 28, 2015 at 2:58 pm
                                                            vince1962
                                                            Participant

                                                              This was not a SLND my lymph nodes under my arm are the size of a lemon, and have been for about 18 months! This is not the primary, We believe that the primary is on my back, have a mole that bleeds alot and about six inches from the mole is a nodule about the size of a quarter thats red and itches like crazy, being that the nodes are not the primary won,t that make a differance in the stage?

                                                              • January 28, 2015 at 2:58 pm
                                                              vince1962
                                                              Participant

                                                                This was not a SLND my lymph nodes under my arm are the size of a lemon, and have been for about 18 months! This is not the primary, We believe that the primary is on my back, have a mole that bleeds alot and about six inches from the mole is a nodule about the size of a quarter thats red and itches like crazy, being that the nodes are not the primary won,t that make a differance in the stage?

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