Should I be worried?
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Should I be worried?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Should I be worried?

  • Post
    • February 3, 2013 at 2:32 am
    [email protected]
    Participant
      I was diagnosed several months ago at stage 1. The primary was on my upper right shoulder blade and only .25mm. I had a wide incision done and nothing else. About two weeks ago I woke up with an ear infection. I went to the doctor and they put me on antibiotics. I finished those early last week but the lymph node right in front if my ear lobe is still swollen. Should I just see my regular doctor or should I call my oncologist? It has now been swollen for almost two weeks.

      I was diagnosed several months ago at stage 1. The primary was on my upper right shoulder blade and only .25mm. I had a wide incision done and nothing else. About two weeks ago I woke up with an ear infection. I went to the doctor and they put me on antibiotics. I finished those early last week but the lymph node right in front if my ear lobe is still swollen. Should I just see my regular doctor or should I call my oncologist? It has now been swollen for almost two weeks.

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    • Replies
        • February 3, 2013 at 4:44 am
        POW
        Participant

          You don't have anything to worry about from melanoma, but you might want to get a prescription for a stronger antibiotic.

          • February 3, 2013 at 4:44 am
          POW
          Participant

            You don't have anything to worry about from melanoma, but you might want to get a prescription for a stronger antibiotic.

              • February 3, 2013 at 9:35 am
              becky15
              Participant
                POW, I know your intentions are good but unless you are medically qualified in the area of melanoma you should not be giving such definitive opinions. As a stage 1 myself, I have done enough research on thin melanomas to know that a depth of 0.25mm is extremely unlikely to become a problem. However, nothing is impossible with melanoma so gor peace of mind any swollen lymph gland should be checked out.
                • February 3, 2013 at 9:35 am
                becky15
                Participant
                  POW, I know your intentions are good but unless you are medically qualified in the area of melanoma you should not be giving such definitive opinions. As a stage 1 myself, I have done enough research on thin melanomas to know that a depth of 0.25mm is extremely unlikely to become a problem. However, nothing is impossible with melanoma so gor peace of mind any swollen lymph gland should be checked out.
                  • February 3, 2013 at 9:35 am
                  becky15
                  Participant
                    POW, I know your intentions are good but unless you are medically qualified in the area of melanoma you should not be giving such definitive opinions. As a stage 1 myself, I have done enough research on thin melanomas to know that a depth of 0.25mm is extremely unlikely to become a problem. However, nothing is impossible with melanoma so gor peace of mind any swollen lymph gland should be checked out.
                  • February 3, 2013 at 4:44 am
                  POW
                  Participant

                    You don't have anything to worry about from melanoma, but you might want to get a prescription for a stronger antibiotic.

                    • February 3, 2013 at 11:07 am
                    JC
                    Participant

                      if it was on your upper right shoulder blade, I'd be more concerned if it were an axillary lymph node under your arm that was swollen. . ear lobe nodes probably wouldn't be the ones this melanoma would go to first

                      • February 3, 2013 at 11:07 am
                      JC
                      Participant

                        if it was on your upper right shoulder blade, I'd be more concerned if it were an axillary lymph node under your arm that was swollen. . ear lobe nodes probably wouldn't be the ones this melanoma would go to first

                        • February 3, 2013 at 11:07 am
                        JC
                        Participant

                          if it was on your upper right shoulder blade, I'd be more concerned if it were an axillary lymph node under your arm that was swollen. . ear lobe nodes probably wouldn't be the ones this melanoma would go to first

                          • February 3, 2013 at 3:30 pm
                          Janner
                          Participant
                            Ear infections cause lymph nodes to swell all the time, that is what they are there for to manage infections. Your melanoma is very low risk. Keep it in perspective. When something comes up, look for the most obvious reason first. Melanoma typically won’t be in that list. For lymph nodes, you typically have to give them a fair bit of time to resolve. They can take weeks to return to their normal size. It’s best to not play with them and keep irritating them. With your melanoma, I would worry about the armpit or clavicle nodes first. (My last primary was also on my right shoulder blade but deeper than yours). Neck nodes swell more than any other nodes and sometimes for no obvious reasons. I tend to give neck nodes a lot of leeway and rarely worry about them for melanoma when they are so prone to infection. If your primary was on your head, it’s a bit harder to relax with swollen neck nodes… But infection still is the most likely cause for swelling! Look for the most likely cause first, don’t look for zebras.

                            Best wishes,
                            Janner

                            • February 3, 2013 at 3:30 pm
                            Janner
                            Participant
                              Ear infections cause lymph nodes to swell all the time, that is what they are there for to manage infections. Your melanoma is very low risk. Keep it in perspective. When something comes up, look for the most obvious reason first. Melanoma typically won’t be in that list. For lymph nodes, you typically have to give them a fair bit of time to resolve. They can take weeks to return to their normal size. It’s best to not play with them and keep irritating them. With your melanoma, I would worry about the armpit or clavicle nodes first. (My last primary was also on my right shoulder blade but deeper than yours). Neck nodes swell more than any other nodes and sometimes for no obvious reasons. I tend to give neck nodes a lot of leeway and rarely worry about them for melanoma when they are so prone to infection. If your primary was on your head, it’s a bit harder to relax with swollen neck nodes… But infection still is the most likely cause for swelling! Look for the most likely cause first, don’t look for zebras.

                              Best wishes,
                              Janner

                              • February 3, 2013 at 3:30 pm
                              Janner
                              Participant
                                Ear infections cause lymph nodes to swell all the time, that is what they are there for to manage infections. Your melanoma is very low risk. Keep it in perspective. When something comes up, look for the most obvious reason first. Melanoma typically won’t be in that list. For lymph nodes, you typically have to give them a fair bit of time to resolve. They can take weeks to return to their normal size. It’s best to not play with them and keep irritating them. With your melanoma, I would worry about the armpit or clavicle nodes first. (My last primary was also on my right shoulder blade but deeper than yours). Neck nodes swell more than any other nodes and sometimes for no obvious reasons. I tend to give neck nodes a lot of leeway and rarely worry about them for melanoma when they are so prone to infection. If your primary was on your head, it’s a bit harder to relax with swollen neck nodes… But infection still is the most likely cause for swelling! Look for the most likely cause first, don’t look for zebras.

                                Best wishes,
                                Janner

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