Curious George

Thank you Bill! This is very helpful.

My experience and knowldge in this area was zero. I did some online research but clearly not enough. I think the doctor here accepted the tape test (http://dermtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/dermtech-non-invasive-biopsy-brochure.pdf) as a "biopsy." which apparently it is not. Also the report from Dermtech did not include any number(s) at all. It just said "LINC00578: DETECTED."

Thank you Bill! This is very helpful.

My experience and knowldge in this area was zero. I did some online research but clearly not enough. I think the doctor here accepted the tape test (http://dermtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/dermtech-non-invasive-biopsy-brochure.pdf) as a "biopsy." which apparently it is not. Also the report from Dermtech did not include any number(s) at all. It just said "LINC00578: DETECTED."

Thank you Bill! This is very helpful.

My experience and knowldge in this area was zero. I did some online research but clearly not enough. I think the doctor here accepted the tape test (http://dermtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/dermtech-non-invasive-biopsy-brochure.pdf) as a "biopsy." which apparently it is not. Also the report from Dermtech did not include any number(s) at all. It just said "LINC00578: DETECTED."

Thank you Janner, Jennunicorn and Michele!

I think you are all right on this. Your responses reinforce my concern/belief that the diagnosis, if you can call it that, was based soley upon the Dermtech gene expression tape test. I wish I had gotten another opinion earlier but they said the test was positive for melanoma, emphasized how serious this was, and immediately scheduled the excision biopsy. I was skeptical when I saw the Dermtech report which contained no data at all and said only that melanoma had been detected in one but not both tests they did. I would like to think that everyone acted in good faith here and that the test is just a bad test. I understand that the gold standard for suspected melanoma is excision biopsy, but I wonder, given the vulnerability of patients in this situation and the economic incentives involved.  

Again, sincere thanks for responding!

Thank you Janner, Jennunicorn and Michele!

I think you are all right on this. Your responses reinforce my concern/belief that the diagnosis, if you can call it that, was based soley upon the Dermtech gene expression tape test. I wish I had gotten another opinion earlier but they said the test was positive for melanoma, emphasized how serious this was, and immediately scheduled the excision biopsy. I was skeptical when I saw the Dermtech report which contained no data at all and said only that melanoma had been detected in one but not both tests they did. I would like to think that everyone acted in good faith here and that the test is just a bad test. I understand that the gold standard for suspected melanoma is excision biopsy, but I wonder, given the vulnerability of patients in this situation and the economic incentives involved.  

Again, sincere thanks for responding!

Thank you Janner, Jennunicorn and Michele!

I think you are all right on this. Your responses reinforce my concern/belief that the diagnosis, if you can call it that, was based soley upon the Dermtech gene expression tape test. I wish I had gotten another opinion earlier but they said the test was positive for melanoma, emphasized how serious this was, and immediately scheduled the excision biopsy. I was skeptical when I saw the Dermtech report which contained no data at all and said only that melanoma had been detected in one but not both tests they did. I would like to think that everyone acted in good faith here and that the test is just a bad test. I understand that the gold standard for suspected melanoma is excision biopsy, but I wonder, given the vulnerability of patients in this situation and the economic incentives involved.  

Again, sincere thanks for responding!

I had the excisional biopsy today based soley upon this test. I was reluctant, given the paucity of empirircal data on the test. Doctor said they had been using it only about three months and thus far all the postitives had all been diagnosed as melanoma in situ upon actual biopsy. He did not give any numbers. He did not seem concerned and said that this is "probably" what I have. I will find out in a couplel of days. I remain fearful but hope he is right. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

I had the excisional biopsy today based soley upon this test. I was reluctant, given the paucity of empirircal data on the test. Doctor said they had been using it only about three months and thus far all the postitives had all been diagnosed as melanoma in situ upon actual biopsy. He did not give any numbers. He did not seem concerned and said that this is "probably" what I have. I will find out in a couplel of days. I remain fearful but hope he is right. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

I had the excisional biopsy today based soley upon this test. I was reluctant, given the paucity of empirircal data on the test. Doctor said they had been using it only about three months and thus far all the postitives had all been diagnosed as melanoma in situ upon actual biopsy. He did not give any numbers. He did not seem concerned and said that this is "probably" what I have. I will find out in a couplel of days. I remain fearful but hope he is right. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Thanks DVD! What a great, smart group and empathic group this is! You, Ed and Jenn have summarized and understood my concerns better than I did. I try to be an informed consumer of medical care but I have no experience in this area and this really scared me.I guess I will have the excision and hope for the best.

Thanks DVD! What a great, smart group and empathic group this is! You, Ed and Jenn have summarized and understood my concerns better than I did. I try to be an informed consumer of medical care but I have no experience in this area and this really scared me.I guess I will have the excision and hope for the best.

Thanks DVD! What a great, smart group and empathic group this is! You, Ed and Jenn have summarized and understood my concerns better than I did. I try to be an informed consumer of medical care but I have no experience in this area and this really scared me.I guess I will have the excision and hope for the best.

Thanks Jenn and anyone else who can help.

I am skeptical but it is hard to get past the diagnosis and what may lie ahead.

Here is the sales pitch for the test:  

http://dermtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/dermtech-non-invasive-biopsy-brochure.pdf

Again any thoughts from anyone would be much appreciated:

Thanks Jenn and anyone else who can help.

I am skeptical but it is hard to get past the diagnosis and what may lie ahead.

Here is the sales pitch for the test:  

http://dermtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/dermtech-non-invasive-biopsy-brochure.pdf

Again any thoughts from anyone would be much appreciated:

Thanks Jenn and anyone else who can help.

I am skeptical but it is hard to get past the diagnosis and what may lie ahead.

Here is the sales pitch for the test:  

http://dermtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/dermtech-non-invasive-biopsy-brochure.pdf

Again any thoughts from anyone would be much appreciated: