Pregnancy after melanoma
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Pregnancy after melanoma

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Pregnancy after melanoma

  • Post
    • August 10, 2015 at 10:49 pm
    anitarivera
    Participant

      I thought I recently posted, but can't find my original post. I'm new here, diagnosed last October with stage 1b melanoma, had a WLE and no further treatment. I consider myself extremely lucky.

      my husband and I want to have another baby but no doctor will give us a straight answer about the possibility of the pregnancy causing melanoma to rear its ugly head again somewhere on my body. We are scared/confused and would appreciate anyone's experience or knowledge with regards to this topic.

      thank you!

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • August 10, 2015 at 10:54 pm
        strideam
        Participant

          I have no experience or knowledge but I have the same fears. We don't know what to do either, and I'm turning 40 soon so time is ticking.

          I'm sorry I can't offer any help but I know how you feel.

          Amy

            • August 11, 2015 at 8:08 am
            stars
            Participant

              Hi

              I'm no expert but I did a bit of reading on this topic because looking back on it, I'm sure my melanomas started to evolve during pregnancy.  Here's the best info I could find:

              http://www.med.nyu.edu/surgery/oncology/patient-care/melanoma/special-situations/melanoma-pregnancy

              I guess the advice is to wait a year or two (the most common window for recurrences) then go for it, but with usual vigilance in skin checks.

              Good luck with your decision,

              Stars

              • August 11, 2015 at 11:14 am
              anitarivera
              Participant

                Thank you!

                • August 11, 2015 at 11:14 am
                anitarivera
                Participant

                  Thank you!

                  • August 11, 2015 at 11:14 am
                  anitarivera
                  Participant

                    Thank you!

                    • August 11, 2015 at 8:08 am
                    stars
                    Participant

                      Hi

                      I'm no expert but I did a bit of reading on this topic because looking back on it, I'm sure my melanomas started to evolve during pregnancy.  Here's the best info I could find:

                      http://www.med.nyu.edu/surgery/oncology/patient-care/melanoma/special-situations/melanoma-pregnancy

                      I guess the advice is to wait a year or two (the most common window for recurrences) then go for it, but with usual vigilance in skin checks.

                      Good luck with your decision,

                      Stars

                      • August 11, 2015 at 8:08 am
                      stars
                      Participant

                        Hi

                        I'm no expert but I did a bit of reading on this topic because looking back on it, I'm sure my melanomas started to evolve during pregnancy.  Here's the best info I could find:

                        http://www.med.nyu.edu/surgery/oncology/patient-care/melanoma/special-situations/melanoma-pregnancy

                        I guess the advice is to wait a year or two (the most common window for recurrences) then go for it, but with usual vigilance in skin checks.

                        Good luck with your decision,

                        Stars

                        • August 13, 2015 at 4:01 pm
                        strideam
                        Participant

                          Anita I saw a top melanoma oncologist yesterday and asked him this question.  He said that for anything other than in situ, his advice is to wait 5 years.  He also said research does not bear out this advice and hasn't shown any real connection with recurrance and pregnancy, but based on his personal experience and paitens he has seen, that's what he advises.  Whatever that is worth 🙂

                          • August 13, 2015 at 4:01 pm
                          strideam
                          Participant

                            Anita I saw a top melanoma oncologist yesterday and asked him this question.  He said that for anything other than in situ, his advice is to wait 5 years.  He also said research does not bear out this advice and hasn't shown any real connection with recurrance and pregnancy, but based on his personal experience and paitens he has seen, that's what he advises.  Whatever that is worth 🙂

                            • August 13, 2015 at 4:01 pm
                            strideam
                            Participant

                              Anita I saw a top melanoma oncologist yesterday and asked him this question.  He said that for anything other than in situ, his advice is to wait 5 years.  He also said research does not bear out this advice and hasn't shown any real connection with recurrance and pregnancy, but based on his personal experience and paitens he has seen, that's what he advises.  Whatever that is worth 🙂

                            • August 10, 2015 at 10:54 pm
                            strideam
                            Participant

                              I have no experience or knowledge but I have the same fears. We don't know what to do either, and I'm turning 40 soon so time is ticking.

                              I'm sorry I can't offer any help but I know how you feel.

                              Amy

                              • August 10, 2015 at 10:54 pm
                              strideam
                              Participant

                                I have no experience or knowledge but I have the same fears. We don't know what to do either, and I'm turning 40 soon so time is ticking.

                                I'm sorry I can't offer any help but I know how you feel.

                                Amy

                                • August 12, 2015 at 5:30 pm
                                AshleyS
                                Participant

                                  Hi Anita,

                                  Well, I consider myself your go-to lady. At 29 years old, 7 months after my first child's birth, I had a mole removed on my left calf. I had a wide excision and SLNB. I also had a PET. All clear. My original mole was 1.95 mm so I was Stage 1b. 

                                  I asked every doctor (dermatologist, OB, and oncologist). All of them said we could go ahead and have a second. It took us 3 years to have our daughter, so it we wanted to start right away. 

                                  One year after my clear scans I was halfway through my pregnancy and found a lump. On a Wednesday I found out I was having a little boy and on Thursday I had surgery to remove a mass. Sure enough, my melanoma spread. Long story short, after delivery, I found out my melanoma spread throughout my body, including to my liver. I've been stage IV since December. 

                                  After doing more research, I probably should have waited 5 years. I love my son (now 8 months) and can't imagine life without him, but I wish I could enjoy him more and could be more confident in my own future. 

                                  If you'd like to email me personally, my email is [email protected]. I also have a FB page and CaringBridge blog with more about my story. 

                                  Best of luck,

                                  Ashley

                                  • August 12, 2015 at 5:30 pm
                                  AshleyS
                                  Participant

                                    Hi Anita,

                                    Well, I consider myself your go-to lady. At 29 years old, 7 months after my first child's birth, I had a mole removed on my left calf. I had a wide excision and SLNB. I also had a PET. All clear. My original mole was 1.95 mm so I was Stage 1b. 

                                    I asked every doctor (dermatologist, OB, and oncologist). All of them said we could go ahead and have a second. It took us 3 years to have our daughter, so it we wanted to start right away. 

                                    One year after my clear scans I was halfway through my pregnancy and found a lump. On a Wednesday I found out I was having a little boy and on Thursday I had surgery to remove a mass. Sure enough, my melanoma spread. Long story short, after delivery, I found out my melanoma spread throughout my body, including to my liver. I've been stage IV since December. 

                                    After doing more research, I probably should have waited 5 years. I love my son (now 8 months) and can't imagine life without him, but I wish I could enjoy him more and could be more confident in my own future. 

                                    If you'd like to email me personally, my email is [email protected]. I also have a FB page and CaringBridge blog with more about my story. 

                                    Best of luck,

                                    Ashley

                                    • August 12, 2015 at 5:30 pm
                                    AshleyS
                                    Participant

                                      Hi Anita,

                                      Well, I consider myself your go-to lady. At 29 years old, 7 months after my first child's birth, I had a mole removed on my left calf. I had a wide excision and SLNB. I also had a PET. All clear. My original mole was 1.95 mm so I was Stage 1b. 

                                      I asked every doctor (dermatologist, OB, and oncologist). All of them said we could go ahead and have a second. It took us 3 years to have our daughter, so it we wanted to start right away. 

                                      One year after my clear scans I was halfway through my pregnancy and found a lump. On a Wednesday I found out I was having a little boy and on Thursday I had surgery to remove a mass. Sure enough, my melanoma spread. Long story short, after delivery, I found out my melanoma spread throughout my body, including to my liver. I've been stage IV since December. 

                                      After doing more research, I probably should have waited 5 years. I love my son (now 8 months) and can't imagine life without him, but I wish I could enjoy him more and could be more confident in my own future. 

                                      If you'd like to email me personally, my email is [email protected]. I also have a FB page and CaringBridge blog with more about my story. 

                                      Best of luck,

                                      Ashley

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