Ohio mom

Thanks Julie, 

I already had the WLE, so that scares me.  

This is a surgical onocologist who specializes in melanoma.

I had the shaved biopsy and then the punch hole biopsy with no risidual melanoma, And have already had the WLE.  Both the punch hole and WLE was performed by the surgical onocologist.

All of the writing/verbiage was from the pathology report that the surgical onocologist had done of the shaved biopsy and I don’t understand most of it.

But thank you for your response and best wishes to you!

Thank you, this means more to me than you know!!

Thank you so much for your reply!  At least I know it may be just another week.  And I like knowing that possible other test may be done also!  

Best wishes to you and your wife!

Thanks for the replies,

How long did you have to wait for the excision surgery? Do you think there is a chance that they might to the excision that day, which is tomorrow morning at 8:00. It’s on my upper arm.

Thank you Bri!!  I appreciate any information and recommendations I can get!!

Do you think there is a slight chance that Dr Howard would do the SLNB and excision at my first appointment May 1st?  Already waiting the two weeks since the biopsy and then getting the melanoma results a week ago Friday has been terrible.  The anxiety is taking its toll on me, I can hardly sleep or eat.  I try to go on about life, but I’m in such fear.

If you don’t mind me asking, are you being seen at both the James and the Cleveland clinic?  How are you doing?!  I feel like I am being so self absorbed since I found out and that is not my nature!  I pray things are going well for you.

Kind regards!

So good to know.  Thank you for sharing your situation.

best wishes to u!

I get what your saying.  I guess when you are scared and looking for answers.

i know that not everything may look like “melanoma” but why do dermatologist do shave biopsy if the possibility is even there?  Who wouldn’t rather have a scar over a compromised diagnosis of the Breslow depth.  I at least feel in my case, I basically said this is not normal, it was dark red, as big as a pencil eraser and I stated that I would like the area tested.  Not being a doctor if I would have known…I would have demanded to cut as deep and wide as possible or let me go to someone who will. But I can only go forward.  But to me, anything that doesn’t look healthy, don’t shave biopsy!!

Thank you each one of you!  I am overwhelmed by the kindness and yes…patience you have shown and given  me.  I know I am redundant, fearful, and asking what only the good Lord knows the answer to at this very moment.  I hope and pray that the Dr will do the SNLB and exicision at my appointment this Tuesday, even if it’s not standard.  I’m praying it is a strong possibility.

And Celeste, your right, my kids are truly one of my biggest concerns. I had my daughter at 43, so she just turned nine.  She is a competitive Irish dancer.  My son is 17 and does competitive bass fishing tournaments and plays an awesome electric guitar.  They are great kids and since I was told early on I couldn’t have kids, they are my greatest gifts!  I’m truly blessed.

again, thank you to this wonderful site and I pray for each one of you, for healing, discernment for the doctors and for a future free of cancer!!

Thank you for the clarification.  I am new to this and I truly never want to upset or offend anyone.  I mean that.  

I appreciate the opportunity to come and ask questions or even say things in fear that might seem daff or offensive, but that is not purpose.

i will certainly talk to him about the SLNB.  thank you.

Thank u!  Your right, I will stop googling.  It’s very dire.

I could use all the experienced info here other than what I’ve read.

I will for sure ask for the SNLB, but does anyone have a guesstimate to what the average depth is after a shaved biopsy?  Do they add that to the previous number?

Thank you for your informative and honest reply.

I can’t imagine why they did a shave biopsy either.  The more I read, the more I see it would have been very easy for them to have just excised it there.  I hate to think it’s because the office is so busy and it would have taken more time…..It baffles me since I have already had basal cell carcinoma removed with deeper incisions from the same Dr.

I will request as you suggested a SNLB and go from there.  The waiting is hard and knowing that it wasn’t handled right makes it even harder.

I feel as if melanoma.org has helped me more than my 4 calls that it took to get my pathology report from the Dr emailed to me and to have them answer questions.

Thank You!!

Wishing each of you the best!

Thank you Joyce!!

You speak in beautiful soft wisdom!  Thank you!

I also forgot to add my diagnosis:  Superficial spreading malignant melanoma,measuring 0.5mm in depth, not excised.

what would this mean?

thank u all!!

Thank you❤️

The melanoma is located on my left anterior distal upper arm.

My dermatologist stated that even though the Breslow number was low it could still be much deeper and that the Breslow number could change and possibly have spread to lymph nodes or elsewhere?  That’s where my fear comes into play.  Also that because my margins were both involved that this was a concern also.

I will be seeing Dr. John Harrison Howard.  I wish it were today.  

Thank you for your words of encouragement,  even in fear, they are so very appreciated.