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Regression question – Path report
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Regression question – Path report

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Regression question – Path report

  • Post
    • August 2, 2016 at 10:43 pm
    Kare83
    Participant

      On my initial path report it says

      "There is a moderate lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate, consistent with a component of regression."

      Looking up regression, from what I can tell this is good as it  means the immune system had identified the malignant cells as bad and go about destroying them, right?

      Although I have stumbled across a page to help understand Melanoma Path reports and it says that regression can make it hard to work out how extensive the Melanoma was before regression occured. 

      Also.. it was a very thin Melanoma, I know, but it states that there was focal invasion of the papillary dermis (0.40mm breslow), and in the wider excision got everything though I am slightly freaking out thinking about blood vessels and things that could help it travel… Is this why they say it can turn up in the lymph nodes later on? Because no one can really be sure if they got it all out?

      I feel so bad I shouldn't be falling apart over this when others are really fighting this disease and I hope I am no offending anyone but I just have these bouts of anxiety over it that I can't control. Some days I am fine and others I just lose it! I guess the main positive is that it has made me very aware of covering up moreso and looking after my skin… carrying out monthly skin checks and taking photos of moles to monitor change. I just hate what it does to you mentally!

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    • Replies
        • August 4, 2016 at 2:46 am
        JoshF
        Participant

          I wish I could give you a lot of detail on this but yes regression may not tell you size it was. Though I think an immune response was good. My surgical onc said its what your body is supposed to do…go after it. I never had a primary found and basically went to stage 4. It sounds like you're in a good spot so stay diligent and try to live. I know that's not always easy because I agree that mentally it becomes a struggle, I'm so guilty of that. Praying for nothing but best for you.

          Josh

          • August 4, 2016 at 2:46 am
          JoshF
          Participant

            I wish I could give you a lot of detail on this but yes regression may not tell you size it was. Though I think an immune response was good. My surgical onc said its what your body is supposed to do…go after it. I never had a primary found and basically went to stage 4. It sounds like you're in a good spot so stay diligent and try to live. I know that's not always easy because I agree that mentally it becomes a struggle, I'm so guilty of that. Praying for nothing but best for you.

            Josh

            • August 4, 2016 at 2:46 am
            JoshF
            Participant

              I wish I could give you a lot of detail on this but yes regression may not tell you size it was. Though I think an immune response was good. My surgical onc said its what your body is supposed to do…go after it. I never had a primary found and basically went to stage 4. It sounds like you're in a good spot so stay diligent and try to live. I know that's not always easy because I agree that mentally it becomes a struggle, I'm so guilty of that. Praying for nothing but best for you.

              Josh

                • August 4, 2016 at 3:35 am
                Kare83
                Participant

                  Thank you for your reply Josh! I really appreciate it and am very sorry for your diagnosis, I feel terrible for asking and freaking out when I know I am lucky to have been stage 1 and not any worse. Thank you again for taking the time to respond! 

                  • August 11, 2016 at 8:25 pm
                  gazzz
                  Participant

                    my experience is, never beleive them when they tell you they got it all. Once you have a melanoma of any grade its now your time to be watchful to see where it will turn up next. I know you may not wish to heear that, but as I said, that is my experience. Its great that its not in yoour nodes, so now your job is to continue to monitor those node clusters nearest to your occurrence. When your doc says that sufficient time has passed now to stop the monitoring, I would request continuance. But the good news is there has never been a better time to have this disease, with so many options and treatments and great stories out there now.

                    • August 14, 2016 at 8:03 am
                    Kare83
                    Participant

                      Thanks Gazzz, that is basically what I feel right now, actually… Even though they got it all and it was very 'thin'.. That it has that chance, no matter how big or small, to return one day.

                      My grandfather passed away from Melanoma when I was 10 and my brother has had one removed some time ago also, so I was already having 6 monthly checks.

                      I am still on 3-monthly skin checks, though I think in Dec he wants to put me back to 6-monthly checks.

                      It just terrifies me as I have so many.. I try and take photos every month but have trouble working out which photo is from what area, I have too many moles to monitor! Though I guess the best thing is to just keep going and monitor everything as best as I can for now.

                      • August 14, 2016 at 8:03 am
                      Kare83
                      Participant

                        Thanks Gazzz, that is basically what I feel right now, actually… Even though they got it all and it was very 'thin'.. That it has that chance, no matter how big or small, to return one day.

                        My grandfather passed away from Melanoma when I was 10 and my brother has had one removed some time ago also, so I was already having 6 monthly checks.

                        I am still on 3-monthly skin checks, though I think in Dec he wants to put me back to 6-monthly checks.

                        It just terrifies me as I have so many.. I try and take photos every month but have trouble working out which photo is from what area, I have too many moles to monitor! Though I guess the best thing is to just keep going and monitor everything as best as I can for now.

                        • August 14, 2016 at 8:03 am
                        Kare83
                        Participant

                          Thanks Gazzz, that is basically what I feel right now, actually… Even though they got it all and it was very 'thin'.. That it has that chance, no matter how big or small, to return one day.

                          My grandfather passed away from Melanoma when I was 10 and my brother has had one removed some time ago also, so I was already having 6 monthly checks.

                          I am still on 3-monthly skin checks, though I think in Dec he wants to put me back to 6-monthly checks.

                          It just terrifies me as I have so many.. I try and take photos every month but have trouble working out which photo is from what area, I have too many moles to monitor! Though I guess the best thing is to just keep going and monitor everything as best as I can for now.

                          • August 11, 2016 at 8:25 pm
                          gazzz
                          Participant

                            my experience is, never beleive them when they tell you they got it all. Once you have a melanoma of any grade its now your time to be watchful to see where it will turn up next. I know you may not wish to heear that, but as I said, that is my experience. Its great that its not in yoour nodes, so now your job is to continue to monitor those node clusters nearest to your occurrence. When your doc says that sufficient time has passed now to stop the monitoring, I would request continuance. But the good news is there has never been a better time to have this disease, with so many options and treatments and great stories out there now.

                            • August 11, 2016 at 8:25 pm
                            gazzz
                            Participant

                              my experience is, never beleive them when they tell you they got it all. Once you have a melanoma of any grade its now your time to be watchful to see where it will turn up next. I know you may not wish to heear that, but as I said, that is my experience. Its great that its not in yoour nodes, so now your job is to continue to monitor those node clusters nearest to your occurrence. When your doc says that sufficient time has passed now to stop the monitoring, I would request continuance. But the good news is there has never been a better time to have this disease, with so many options and treatments and great stories out there now.

                              • August 4, 2016 at 3:35 am
                              Kare83
                              Participant

                                Thank you for your reply Josh! I really appreciate it and am very sorry for your diagnosis, I feel terrible for asking and freaking out when I know I am lucky to have been stage 1 and not any worse. Thank you again for taking the time to respond! 

                                • August 4, 2016 at 3:35 am
                                Kare83
                                Participant

                                  Thank you for your reply Josh! I really appreciate it and am very sorry for your diagnosis, I feel terrible for asking and freaking out when I know I am lucky to have been stage 1 and not any worse. Thank you again for taking the time to respond! 

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