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Newly diagnosed in situ
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Newly diagnosed in situ

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Newly diagnosed in situ

  • Post
    • October 3, 2014 at 8:01 pm
    Twistermom3
    Participant

      So here's where I am. At my regular check up last month I asked my GP about a change in a mole on my face that had developed a small dark spot. She also noticed one on my back and sent me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist stated that there were actually two on my back she thought questionable and she recommended a biopsy on those before removing anything on my face. One was fairly small and she removed the entire mole and the biopsy for that came back as abnormal, not melonoma. The second was larger and she removed only part for biopsy. That one came back as melonoma in situ. I go back next week to have the entire mole removed and to re-evaluate the one on my face. 

      I"m not even sure what to ask now. Was it a mistake not to remove the entire larger mole the first time? Too late to change it now, but I don't want to make things worse. If the one on my face also comes back as a melanoma does that mean by definition it has spread?

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        • October 4, 2014 at 1:43 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          Typically when melanoma is suspected, you'd prefer to remove the entire lesion at biopsy.  But sometimes that isn't practical. It shouldn't make things worse – people have melanoma removed,without clear margins frequently.  The only issue you might have is that the other portion might be deeper than in situ.

          As for the lesion on your face, if that were to be melanoma, it would be a new primary instance and not related to the other melanoma.  I've had three primaries and am still stage 1.  You are the stage of your deepest primary. Only about 10% of the population have more than one, though.

          • October 4, 2014 at 1:43 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            Typically when melanoma is suspected, you'd prefer to remove the entire lesion at biopsy.  But sometimes that isn't practical. It shouldn't make things worse – people have melanoma removed,without clear margins frequently.  The only issue you might have is that the other portion might be deeper than in situ.

            As for the lesion on your face, if that were to be melanoma, it would be a new primary instance and not related to the other melanoma.  I've had three primaries and am still stage 1.  You are the stage of your deepest primary. Only about 10% of the population have more than one, though.

            • October 4, 2014 at 1:43 pm
            Janner
            Participant

              Typically when melanoma is suspected, you'd prefer to remove the entire lesion at biopsy.  But sometimes that isn't practical. It shouldn't make things worse – people have melanoma removed,without clear margins frequently.  The only issue you might have is that the other portion might be deeper than in situ.

              As for the lesion on your face, if that were to be melanoma, it would be a new primary instance and not related to the other melanoma.  I've had three primaries and am still stage 1.  You are the stage of your deepest primary. Only about 10% of the population have more than one, though.

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