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Stage 1b and terrified
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Stage 1b and terrified

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Stage 1b and terrified

  • Post
    • April 27, 2014 at 8:05 pm
    Happy_girl
    Participant

       I have recently been diagnosed stage 1b.  The melanoma was 1.8 mm- no ulceration- mitotic rate of 3- which I know is bad!  I guess I just read everywhere about all of these stage 1 and 2 patients who 10 years later have it return. Is there no chance of long      Term survival?  I already had lymph nodes check and they came back negative.  I guess I'm just not seeing to much positive about this and feel like I am just waiting for it to progress to stage 4.  I'm a terrified new mom and afraid I won't be here see my little girl blow out her birthday candles. 

    Viewing 14 reply threads
    • Replies
        • April 27, 2014 at 9:29 pm
        Momrn5
        Participant

          I was 1b for a little while, exact same pathology as yours, until we found micro mets in the lymph node. Something like 90% of people with 1b do just fine.  My husband was diagnosed with a bleeding melanoma 25 years ago.  Huge skin graft on his back. No other treatment.  He is just fine.  Grab onto the 90% who don't progress at stage 1b.   It is really scary and shocking to get the diagnosis, yes it is. Most people on this board say stay off the internet as there have been so many great leaps and bounds in the treatment of melanoma over the past five years, most things you read are now outdated.  Good Luck and enjoy that little girl!  There is a great chance that you will see her blow out those candles for decades to come. 🙂

          • April 27, 2014 at 9:29 pm
          Momrn5
          Participant

            I was 1b for a little while, exact same pathology as yours, until we found micro mets in the lymph node. Something like 90% of people with 1b do just fine.  My husband was diagnosed with a bleeding melanoma 25 years ago.  Huge skin graft on his back. No other treatment.  He is just fine.  Grab onto the 90% who don't progress at stage 1b.   It is really scary and shocking to get the diagnosis, yes it is. Most people on this board say stay off the internet as there have been so many great leaps and bounds in the treatment of melanoma over the past five years, most things you read are now outdated.  Good Luck and enjoy that little girl!  There is a great chance that you will see her blow out those candles for decades to come. 🙂

            • April 27, 2014 at 9:29 pm
            Momrn5
            Participant

              I was 1b for a little while, exact same pathology as yours, until we found micro mets in the lymph node. Something like 90% of people with 1b do just fine.  My husband was diagnosed with a bleeding melanoma 25 years ago.  Huge skin graft on his back. No other treatment.  He is just fine.  Grab onto the 90% who don't progress at stage 1b.   It is really scary and shocking to get the diagnosis, yes it is. Most people on this board say stay off the internet as there have been so many great leaps and bounds in the treatment of melanoma over the past five years, most things you read are now outdated.  Good Luck and enjoy that little girl!  There is a great chance that you will see her blow out those candles for decades to come. 🙂

              • April 27, 2014 at 10:00 pm
              JerryfromFauq
              Participant

                Don't scare my, I've only been at the stage IV level with live tumors for 7 years now.  Still enjoying life and new grand kids and new great grandkids.  At stage Ib, you've got great statistics to look at and even at Stage IV, you have much better odds than the 30 to 180 days I was given in Feb 2007.  Be vigilant, but don't let melanoma win by paranoia controlling your life.  Learn, fight and live.

                  • April 28, 2014 at 11:56 pm
                  Happy_girl
                  Participant

                    Thank you! You sound like you have so much courage!

                    • April 28, 2014 at 11:56 pm
                    Happy_girl
                    Participant

                      Thank you! You sound like you have so much courage!

                      • April 28, 2014 at 11:56 pm
                      Happy_girl
                      Participant

                        Thank you! You sound like you have so much courage!

                      • April 27, 2014 at 10:00 pm
                      JerryfromFauq
                      Participant

                        Don't scare my, I've only been at the stage IV level with live tumors for 7 years now.  Still enjoying life and new grand kids and new great grandkids.  At stage Ib, you've got great statistics to look at and even at Stage IV, you have much better odds than the 30 to 180 days I was given in Feb 2007.  Be vigilant, but don't let melanoma win by paranoia controlling your life.  Learn, fight and live.

                        • April 27, 2014 at 10:00 pm
                        JerryfromFauq
                        Participant

                          Don't scare my, I've only been at the stage IV level with live tumors for 7 years now.  Still enjoying life and new grand kids and new great grandkids.  At stage Ib, you've got great statistics to look at and even at Stage IV, you have much better odds than the 30 to 180 days I was given in Feb 2007.  Be vigilant, but don't let melanoma win by paranoia controlling your life.  Learn, fight and live.

                          • April 27, 2014 at 10:27 pm
                          kab07011
                          Participant

                            Stage 1B'er female here too, October 2009. .97 ulcerated lower back. No recurrence. Negative SNB.

                            2 pregnancies since then. Live life, eat healthy! I was scared and still question recurrence, but chances are SLIM.

                            Any questions please ask 🙂

                             

                              • April 28, 2014 at 10:15 pm
                              Happy_girl
                              Participant

                                How did you feel about getting pregnant? Did it scare you at all?

                                • April 28, 2014 at 10:15 pm
                                Happy_girl
                                Participant

                                  How did you feel about getting pregnant? Did it scare you at all?

                                  • April 28, 2014 at 10:15 pm
                                  Happy_girl
                                  Participant

                                    How did you feel about getting pregnant? Did it scare you at all?

                                  • April 27, 2014 at 10:27 pm
                                  kab07011
                                  Participant

                                    Stage 1B'er female here too, October 2009. .97 ulcerated lower back. No recurrence. Negative SNB.

                                    2 pregnancies since then. Live life, eat healthy! I was scared and still question recurrence, but chances are SLIM.

                                    Any questions please ask 🙂

                                     

                                    • April 27, 2014 at 10:27 pm
                                    kab07011
                                    Participant

                                      Stage 1B'er female here too, October 2009. .97 ulcerated lower back. No recurrence. Negative SNB.

                                      2 pregnancies since then. Live life, eat healthy! I was scared and still question recurrence, but chances are SLIM.

                                      Any questions please ask 🙂

                                       

                                      • April 27, 2014 at 11:09 pm
                                      LuckyMan51
                                      Participant

                                        Hi,

                                        Take deep breath and do a bit of research. You hare highly likely to be around for a long time. Current statistics show 1b 5yr and 10yr survival rates at 92 and 86% respectively. Bear in mind those are now outdated stats as many of the breakthrough melanoma drugs have only been around for a couple of years. The pace of new drug discoveries is very fast and I think it's highly likely that your survival stats will be well above those. Type NED in the search box and you will find many people who have had long lives even while stage IV. You got bad news but as far as bad news goes its about the best bad news you could have gotten. Stay diligent around your health, stay informed on new treatments and give your little girl lots of hugs and kisses for many years. 

                                        • April 27, 2014 at 11:09 pm
                                        LuckyMan51
                                        Participant

                                          Hi,

                                          Take deep breath and do a bit of research. You hare highly likely to be around for a long time. Current statistics show 1b 5yr and 10yr survival rates at 92 and 86% respectively. Bear in mind those are now outdated stats as many of the breakthrough melanoma drugs have only been around for a couple of years. The pace of new drug discoveries is very fast and I think it's highly likely that your survival stats will be well above those. Type NED in the search box and you will find many people who have had long lives even while stage IV. You got bad news but as far as bad news goes its about the best bad news you could have gotten. Stay diligent around your health, stay informed on new treatments and give your little girl lots of hugs and kisses for many years. 

                                          • April 27, 2014 at 11:09 pm
                                          LuckyMan51
                                          Participant

                                            Hi,

                                            Take deep breath and do a bit of research. You hare highly likely to be around for a long time. Current statistics show 1b 5yr and 10yr survival rates at 92 and 86% respectively. Bear in mind those are now outdated stats as many of the breakthrough melanoma drugs have only been around for a couple of years. The pace of new drug discoveries is very fast and I think it's highly likely that your survival stats will be well above those. Type NED in the search box and you will find many people who have had long lives even while stage IV. You got bad news but as far as bad news goes its about the best bad news you could have gotten. Stay diligent around your health, stay informed on new treatments and give your little girl lots of hugs and kisses for many years. 

                                            • April 27, 2014 at 11:27 pm
                                            Janner
                                            Participant

                                              Stage 1B since 1992, 3 melanoma primaries.

                                                • April 28, 2014 at 4:36 pm
                                                Happy_girl
                                                Participant

                                                  Thank you everyone for the encouragement. It helps me believe that this is not a death sentence- but a life style change.  I am working on choosing to believe I will be in the 90%…. No reason to believe otherwise.  I'm hoping time helps heal. 

                                                  • April 28, 2014 at 4:36 pm
                                                  Happy_girl
                                                  Participant

                                                    Thank you everyone for the encouragement. It helps me believe that this is not a death sentence- but a life style change.  I am working on choosing to believe I will be in the 90%…. No reason to believe otherwise.  I'm hoping time helps heal. 

                                                    • August 22, 2014 at 6:04 pm
                                                    MacMac
                                                    Participant

                                                      I was just diagnosed with 1B myself.  Still have to go through the sentinel lymph node biopsy and wide excision.  It is hard to stay positive but I just keep telling myself – well if I am not smiling and living what I am going to do cry every day????  Then what?  So I have my bad moments but I'm trying to smile….

                                                      I have never been more scared though…….

                                                      • August 22, 2014 at 6:04 pm
                                                      MacMac
                                                      Participant

                                                        I was just diagnosed with 1B myself.  Still have to go through the sentinel lymph node biopsy and wide excision.  It is hard to stay positive but I just keep telling myself – well if I am not smiling and living what I am going to do cry every day????  Then what?  So I have my bad moments but I'm trying to smile….

                                                        I have never been more scared though…….

                                                        • August 22, 2014 at 6:04 pm
                                                        MacMac
                                                        Participant

                                                          I was just diagnosed with 1B myself.  Still have to go through the sentinel lymph node biopsy and wide excision.  It is hard to stay positive but I just keep telling myself – well if I am not smiling and living what I am going to do cry every day????  Then what?  So I have my bad moments but I'm trying to smile….

                                                          I have never been more scared though…….

                                                          • April 28, 2014 at 4:36 pm
                                                          Happy_girl
                                                          Participant

                                                            Thank you everyone for the encouragement. It helps me believe that this is not a death sentence- but a life style change.  I am working on choosing to believe I will be in the 90%…. No reason to believe otherwise.  I'm hoping time helps heal. 

                                                          • April 27, 2014 at 11:27 pm
                                                          Janner
                                                          Participant

                                                            Stage 1B since 1992, 3 melanoma primaries.

                                                            • April 27, 2014 at 11:27 pm
                                                            Janner
                                                            Participant

                                                              Stage 1B since 1992, 3 melanoma primaries.

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