Question on margins
REGISTER
The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content within the patient forum is user-generated and has not been reviewed by medical professionals. Other sections of the Melanoma Research Foundation website include information that has been reviewed by medical professionals as appropriate. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Question on margins

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Question on margins

  • Post
    • March 2, 2016 at 2:52 am
    Marie with 4 boys
    Participant
      I am recently diagnosed with melanoma in situ, and go to see the surgeon tomorrow to discuss treatment. I’m wondering if anyone has experience with having surgery, and then finding that they didn’t take enough after the pathology report comes back. I think I’m more scared of this than anything else (other than wanting this cancer off my skin before it spreads). My biopsy reported that it extended to the margins of the shave, and it is in the middle of a large (8 in by 5 in) congenital nevus/freckle area. Since it’s not like a “normal” nevus of small size, I’m a bit worried about this. I’d appreciate any thoughts on the matter of determining margins.

      Thanks.

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • March 2, 2016 at 2:02 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          I can understand your angst, but it is going to be hard to comment.  Extremely rare to have a nevus of that size although congenital nevus do have a higher risk of becoming melanoma.  If the rest of the nevus is not melanoma, they will just be evaluating margins based on what they see as more normal melanocytes versus those of melanoma.  I think in your situation, it is very possible they will have to go back in to get more.  That happens even on normal size moles or lesions too – especially lentigo maligna types.  I think I would ask them to take larger margins to begin with in hopes of getting rid of whatever is problematic.  5mm is standard for melanoma in situ but I have read a study where they think 9mm is actually a better number.  Stage I have 1cm margins.   Your surgeon will obviously have thoughts on this, too, and will hopefully have a strategy for this.  Good luck and let us know what happens.

          • March 2, 2016 at 2:02 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            I can understand your angst, but it is going to be hard to comment.  Extremely rare to have a nevus of that size although congenital nevus do have a higher risk of becoming melanoma.  If the rest of the nevus is not melanoma, they will just be evaluating margins based on what they see as more normal melanocytes versus those of melanoma.  I think in your situation, it is very possible they will have to go back in to get more.  That happens even on normal size moles or lesions too – especially lentigo maligna types.  I think I would ask them to take larger margins to begin with in hopes of getting rid of whatever is problematic.  5mm is standard for melanoma in situ but I have read a study where they think 9mm is actually a better number.  Stage I have 1cm margins.   Your surgeon will obviously have thoughts on this, too, and will hopefully have a strategy for this.  Good luck and let us know what happens.

            • March 2, 2016 at 2:02 pm
            Janner
            Participant

              I can understand your angst, but it is going to be hard to comment.  Extremely rare to have a nevus of that size although congenital nevus do have a higher risk of becoming melanoma.  If the rest of the nevus is not melanoma, they will just be evaluating margins based on what they see as more normal melanocytes versus those of melanoma.  I think in your situation, it is very possible they will have to go back in to get more.  That happens even on normal size moles or lesions too – especially lentigo maligna types.  I think I would ask them to take larger margins to begin with in hopes of getting rid of whatever is problematic.  5mm is standard for melanoma in situ but I have read a study where they think 9mm is actually a better number.  Stage I have 1cm margins.   Your surgeon will obviously have thoughts on this, too, and will hopefully have a strategy for this.  Good luck and let us know what happens.

          Viewing 2 reply threads

          Tagged: 

          • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
          About the MRF Patient Forum

          The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

          The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.