jsmith279

So  I have him an appointmet at the Vanderbilt Canter with a Melanoma and Skin Cancer Surgical Oncoligist. Dr Mary Hook on Dec 27th @ 9:15am.  I REFUSE to wait for January. Besides, everybody needs at least 2 opinions.  We will keep the Jan 7th.  I have called BC/BS, we don't need referrals or PA for any scans or treatments and our out of pocket maxium per yr is $1500.00. Then everything is covered at 100%.  I refuse to not fight, and if he wants to act like nothing is wrong then I will fight for him, be cause I am his wife and that's what I DO!   more as I get it ….. 

Heres the link wifesjourneywithmelanoma.blogspot.com

Thanks for the support. I’m having a hard time finding a melanoma oncologists in Nashville Tn, so any suggestions would be wonderful

I pulled the path repost and will post it, 

Size of speciman: 10x5mm 

Invasive Melanoma Superficial Spreasding type

Breslow Depth: 1.4mm

Dermal Mitotic Rate: 0 Mitoses per MM2

Ulceration: Not Identified

Peripheral Margin: Uninvolvled by invasive melanoma (3mm to melanoma)

Deep Margin: Uninvolvled by invasive melanoma (3mm to melanoma)

Lymphovascular Invasion: Not Identified 

Tumor Regression: Present, Partial 

Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes: Present, Non-Brisk

Macroscopic Satellite Nodules: Not Identified 

Microsatellitosis: Not Identified 

Perineural Invasion: Present

Pathologic Staging, Primary Tumor (pT): pT2a

again I apologize for the confusion — I think i am still in shock and didn't think about posting the full report

Thanks you for this group – 

jen  

 

It does, thank you

Thank you

His surgeon told us that if he doesn’t see the radiation tracer in any of the lymph nodes he isn’t going to remove any of the lymph nodes at all.

His first appointment with the melanoma oncologists at Vanderbilt is Thursday. Patience is not something I have ever been good at. I guess I just feel like I should be doing something besides waiting..

His derma did tell us that every visit from now on (and she has him scheduled out until 2023, keeping in mind my husband is 67yrs old) that she will remove at least 1, I have a feeling I will be a pathalogy expert by the time this is nightmare is over.  The only thing I am conserned about at this point is getting him to NED! we have been married for 27 years, I am not ready to let him go and will be damed if we go down without one hell of a fight, but also on the reality side of it, I know that if things are not going well and it comes to a point where it is "Quality of life vs Quanity of life" quality will win. I don't him suffering in miserable unnecessary pain just to lose the war.  I know that we are going to have to pick our battles, be diligiant and consistant, but also be realistic in what our options are. We are at step one, we see the 1st surgical oncologist Dec 27th at Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, (who is a specialist in Skin Cancer, Melanoma and Non-Melanoma) and the second one on Jan 7th, he is the one the derma set us up with. 

Thank you Niki. I didn't think about putting that as the first part. I am so scatterbrained and off kilter. I have MS and my husband has cancer – I guess we are made for each other – I tell him if it gets to the point that he has to have infusions of xyz drug then maybe we can his infusions scheduled to match mine and we can spend some quality time together … or at least make the best out of it.  

It is almost directly in line with the original mole from his chest that came back Melanoma. We will definitely be having the rest of the second one removed. Once we see the surgeon(s) at what point do they start looking at full body CT/MRI/PET scans? I am guessing the surgeon is going to want to look at the lymph node(s) closest to his original melanoma site, which would be in his left arm pit. We are just starting this journey, but why would the dermatologist just do a shave of a suspicious looking mole after she just told us the first one was melanoma? It seems like it would have made more sense to be a little more aggressive and go ahead with removing the whole thing and be done then just a shave of it and hope for the best.
Again I’m so sorry for all the questions but all this is so new to us and the utter lack of information, miss information and the such is very confusing. However on the upside, if there is one, after talking to my insurance company (BC/BS of Tn through my employer) the absolute maximum out of pocket costs we will have to pay for any dr visits, scans or anything else is $1500/yr I am taking that as a win and guessing we will have met that by the end of January. We don’t need any referrals or prior authorizations for any treatments. I think the biggest problem we will have is from our prescription and medication plan (EnvisionRx) and needing PAs for almost everything.

Thank you. I’m really hoping the dr at Vanderbilt takes the rest of it and we don’t have to wait until Jan to get more information on this mole.

I didn't see any requirements and it's free at blogspot, I'm going to use it as a journal and hopefully someone who stumbles across it, if they are going through the same thing will take a little comfort in knowing they are not alone. – thank you for the warm welcome. I appricate your kindness and it's nice to meet you as well… 

Jen 

My husband was dx'd with Melanoma on Dec 19th 2018. and my name is Jen, under the circumstances it's nice to make your aquaintence Mr. Williams.  If you would like to see his path report, you can find it word for word under my initial post:  Scared and terrified wife — Husband dx'd with Melanoma Superficial Spreading.  I hope that sastifies your questions as to who exactly I am.  I am a scared and terrfied wife of a husband who for the first time in 27 years of marriage my husband is sick. regardless of stage.  So as a way to stay positive and half way keep my own sanity I set up a blog to keep track of our journey.   If you would like to know anything else about me please feel free to ask. 

I will call them first thing Monday morning and see if we can get in before January.