Path Report for Stage 1a – please help
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Path Report for Stage 1a – please help

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Path Report for Stage 1a – please help

  • Post
    • November 17, 2013 at 3:24 pm
    tarheel4242
    Participant
      Hi, I have been reading this site for a few months.Being diagnosed has hit me extremely hard. I was diagnosed at 37 with a lesion on my back. I want to share my path report and hope some can help me make better sense of it.

      My Derm says this is extremely low risk, but in general its low risk to get….like 1 in 50 or so, so very small percentages don’t give me too much confidence.

      Hist type: SSM
      Max tumor thickness: 0.27mm
      Anatomic Level: 2
      Ulceration: not identified
      Periphial margins: uninvolved by melanoma in the plane sectioning
      Deep margins: uninvolved by melanoma
      Mitotic index: 0/mm2
      Microsatellitosis: not identified
      Lymph-vascular invasion: not identified
      Perin.Invasion- not identified
      Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes- present, non brisk
      Tumor regression- not identified

      Microscopic exam:

      There is a circumscribed but asymmetrical compound melanocytic neoplasm, the epidermal component of which reveals focally markedly atypical epitheiloid melanocytes with abundant melanin throughout all epidermal layers. There is only a very focal invasion of the papillary dermis by few single and one small island of atypical melanocytes. There is a dense perivascular and nodular superficial lymphocytic infiltrate with numerous melanophages.

      What do I make of this? Never makes note of growth phase. Also, is this saying that a large part of this was in situ?

      Any and all help understanding this would really help. This has obsessed me to the point where it’s all I think about. I am married with 2 kids and want to be around for a while. Thanks in advance for replies!

    Viewing 14 reply threads
    • Replies
        • November 17, 2013 at 7:24 pm
        Cooper
        Participant

          You were already answered on MIF..

          • November 17, 2013 at 7:24 pm
          Cooper
          Participant

            You were already answered on MIF..

            • November 17, 2013 at 7:24 pm
            Cooper
            Participant

              You were already answered on MIF..

              • November 17, 2013 at 7:24 pm
              Cooper
              Participant

                You were already answered on MIF..

                  • November 17, 2013 at 8:05 pm
                  JC
                  Participant

                    So what?  What's wrong with posting the question here too and seeing some responses from different people who may not be on MIF?  Is there a rule against posting the same question on different forums?  How is that a helpful post to say "you were already answered on MIF?"

                    • November 17, 2013 at 8:05 pm
                    JC
                    Participant

                      So what?  What's wrong with posting the question here too and seeing some responses from different people who may not be on MIF?  Is there a rule against posting the same question on different forums?  How is that a helpful post to say "you were already answered on MIF?"

                      • November 17, 2013 at 8:05 pm
                      JC
                      Participant

                        So what?  What's wrong with posting the question here too and seeing some responses from different people who may not be on MIF?  Is there a rule against posting the same question on different forums?  How is that a helpful post to say "you were already answered on MIF?"

                      • November 17, 2013 at 7:24 pm
                      Cooper
                      Participant

                        You were already answered on MIF..

                        • November 17, 2013 at 7:24 pm
                        Cooper
                        Participant

                          You were already answered on MIF..

                          • November 17, 2013 at 8:59 pm
                          POW
                          Participant

                            Hi, Tarheel-

                            The most important predictors of future recurrences are:

                            1) Breslow depth. Yours is 0.26 mm, similar to a melanoma in situ; many are > 1.0 mm and some are > 5.0 mm on diagnosis.

                            2) Mitotic index, which is the number of actively dividing cells in one microscope field. Yous is 0; many are 4-7 and some are >10.

                            3) Ulceration – meaning that the lesion has ruptured and melanoma cells may have escaped. Yours is not ulcerated.

                            Nobody can ever say that you will NEVER have a recurrence, but your chances could not be closer to 0. 

                            As Janner (our melanoma guru) always says, remain vigilant but not obsessed. Practice good sun safety and teach your children sun safety. Check your skin regularly. If you see moles that change, consult your dermatologist. If you can do these things you should be fine. Congratulations on your lucky outcome! 

                            Now I suggest that you go away and stop reading about melanoma on the Internet. You will just continue to scare yourself silly. 

                            • November 17, 2013 at 8:59 pm
                            POW
                            Participant

                              Hi, Tarheel-

                              The most important predictors of future recurrences are:

                              1) Breslow depth. Yours is 0.26 mm, similar to a melanoma in situ; many are > 1.0 mm and some are > 5.0 mm on diagnosis.

                              2) Mitotic index, which is the number of actively dividing cells in one microscope field. Yous is 0; many are 4-7 and some are >10.

                              3) Ulceration – meaning that the lesion has ruptured and melanoma cells may have escaped. Yours is not ulcerated.

                              Nobody can ever say that you will NEVER have a recurrence, but your chances could not be closer to 0. 

                              As Janner (our melanoma guru) always says, remain vigilant but not obsessed. Practice good sun safety and teach your children sun safety. Check your skin regularly. If you see moles that change, consult your dermatologist. If you can do these things you should be fine. Congratulations on your lucky outcome! 

                              Now I suggest that you go away and stop reading about melanoma on the Internet. You will just continue to scare yourself silly. 

                              • November 17, 2013 at 8:59 pm
                              POW
                              Participant

                                Hi, Tarheel-

                                The most important predictors of future recurrences are:

                                1) Breslow depth. Yours is 0.26 mm, similar to a melanoma in situ; many are > 1.0 mm and some are > 5.0 mm on diagnosis.

                                2) Mitotic index, which is the number of actively dividing cells in one microscope field. Yous is 0; many are 4-7 and some are >10.

                                3) Ulceration – meaning that the lesion has ruptured and melanoma cells may have escaped. Yours is not ulcerated.

                                Nobody can ever say that you will NEVER have a recurrence, but your chances could not be closer to 0. 

                                As Janner (our melanoma guru) always says, remain vigilant but not obsessed. Practice good sun safety and teach your children sun safety. Check your skin regularly. If you see moles that change, consult your dermatologist. If you can do these things you should be fine. Congratulations on your lucky outcome! 

                                Now I suggest that you go away and stop reading about melanoma on the Internet. You will just continue to scare yourself silly. 

                                • November 18, 2013 at 2:44 am
                                sbrooks90
                                Participant

                                  Hi Tarheel,

                                  What POW said is very true… you have a very favorable outcome after reading your path report. I understand its hard not to obsess about it but the thing is that nothing is ever 100% accurate and given the fact that it was caught VERY early…. I think your going to do just fine 🙂

                                  Samuel

                                  • November 18, 2013 at 2:44 am
                                  sbrooks90
                                  Participant

                                    Hi Tarheel,

                                    What POW said is very true… you have a very favorable outcome after reading your path report. I understand its hard not to obsess about it but the thing is that nothing is ever 100% accurate and given the fact that it was caught VERY early…. I think your going to do just fine 🙂

                                    Samuel

                                    • November 18, 2013 at 2:44 am
                                    sbrooks90
                                    Participant

                                      Hi Tarheel,

                                      What POW said is very true… you have a very favorable outcome after reading your path report. I understand its hard not to obsess about it but the thing is that nothing is ever 100% accurate and given the fact that it was caught VERY early…. I think your going to do just fine 🙂

                                      Samuel

                                      • November 18, 2013 at 8:19 pm
                                      JC
                                      Participant
                                        • November 18, 2013 at 8:19 pm
                                        JC
                                        Participant
                                          • November 18, 2013 at 8:19 pm
                                          JC
                                          Participant
                                        Viewing 14 reply threads

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