Level

We received our shock yesterday and are so uninformed.  I am reading about Level IV.  We are scheduled for MD Anderson next week.   My husband has malignant melanoma Breslow Depth - approx 9mm;Clark Level IV, Host Response: minimal; Regression: absent; Mitoses >6/mm raised to the second power; ulceration present.

When you refer to Level IV, are you referring to Clark Level?

My husband was diagnosed with Clark Level III in mid October. On 11/05/07 he went into MD Anderson for removal of the tumor and two Lymph Nodes in his armpit. The tumor was on his right forearm. We are now waiting for the results of the lymph node testing. Waiting has got to be the hardest thing we have had to do so far.

Be reassured that MD Anderson is a wonderful hospital. I just can't say enough good things about them. Good luck and you are in my prayers.

I wanted to let everyone know that the results came back and his lymph nodes are clear and the tissue removed around the tumor were all clean!  Yeah God!  We still a life long battle to stay one step ahead, but with faith and hope we will continue to win! 

 

On 11/16/2007 Alibi wrote:

I wanted to let everyone know that the results came back and his lymph nodes are clear and the tissue removed around the tumor were all clean!  Yeah God!  We still a life long battle to stay one step ahead, but with faith and hope we will continue to win! 

Alibi - Thank you for your reply, and I am so relieved that your report was a winner.  We are scheduled for MDA this Wednesday.  Many prayers have gone up for us, so I am depending on a good report.  We spent the Thanksgiving holidays with our children and their families.  I am going to depend on a reoccurrance of this event many times over.

How did your visit with MDA go? 

Alibi,

I just started looking into these chat rooms and saw yours.  My husband had a mole removed in 2005.  He to had no other signs of melanoma.  He was a stage 4 candidate becaise of the depth.  No lymph node invlovement or anything.  A year later he found a small pea size lump right around the incision.  It was what they call in transit.  Now the melanoma has spread to his lungs.  He is currently on Temador for only his second cylce.  We will not know if it is working until the 7th of Dec.  I guess I just want you to realize that checking him out all over for any signs of bumps or changes in moles is very crucial.  I did not know what to look for and now that I have seen it I wish someone would have told me what to look for.  I really onyl looked at the moles and freckles for change.  I did not realize the size of bumps that can occur.  Look him over very closely.  Feel every contour for any uneven areas.  Just be aware of everything.  My husband is only 43 and we have a 4 year old daughter which we waited a long time for.  God blessed us with her and I am praying he will bless us with a long and healthy life with her.  God Bless you.

 

Kim T

Kim,

I really am sorry to hear that.  I truly believe that the Lord is with you and your family, and will help you through this.  It's hard for us to understand why, we just have to have faith that there is purpose for this.

My husband (who is 47) is scheduled to be seen by his oncologist every four months, at that time they'll do full blood work and chest x-rays.  He is also scheduled to see his dermatologist once a month.  The pressure of me missing a spot, or bump has proven too great for me.  So we agreed on monthly visits to the Derm.  I still look for any changes on my husband, I just feel a little better knowing someone else is too.

Please don't put any blame on yourself for not seeing the bumps or lumps.  Before melanoma came into my life, I never thought twice about freckles or moles or bumps & lumps.  Now it's always the fore throught in my mind.  I see melanoma in strangers I meet.  I have even stopped a woman at Wal-Mart and asked her if she has seen a dermatologist about a nasty mole on her neck.  I offended her.  Not my intention, and I really don't mind that I did make her angry at me.  I hope she thought about it and went to see a dermatologist.  

Please keep us posted on his progress.  You and your family are in my prayers.   

 

 

 

Thank goodness.  My husband was diagnosed in 02', had a mole removed and three years later (CT scan every year) was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer.  I honestly believe they glanced at cells around the liver, thought they were cancer and completely missed it.  If you can, please have them check the nodes - slice them and test them.  It would have made a world of difference.

I hope you never have to deal with this again, waiting is by far the worst part.

Best to you,

Demetria