Diagnosis Option / Question

I Just had a second melanoma removed last week. (First was 16yrs. ago.) This one was .95 mm thick and derm guy said stage "1-B on the cusp of  1mm probably wouldn't recommend sentinel node biopsy"  just wide excision and cross your fingers. Now I'm worried and wish I would have had SNB. Given my own priors and extensive cancer in family history, I want a more definitive dx. I'm not OK with the" wait and see" on the second incident.  I'm trying to get a referral for an onc or get my GP to order a PET scan. That's what "I think" would definitive! 

Maybe hard to get done. Seems Dr's are quite cavalier about my cancer.  Would they feel the same if it were them???

Please advise your recommendations on PET scan.

Your time to reply is sincerely appreciated! 

Please get that PET scan.  Don't ever just wait and watch.  Melanoma can spread to vital organs overnight.  My sister had a small spot removed 11 years ago, continued each year to get blood work and chest x-ray, each time getting an all-clear.  All of a sudden she has metastatic melanoma in five lymph nodes.  She has gotten treatment at M D Anderson in Houston and is doing very well.  They saved her life.  A PET scan is how they found the five melanoma nodes.

 Also, I think you should see an oncologist and not just a regular GP.

 I hope all goes good for you.

 Carolyn  from Tennessee

My husband is being treated by MD Anderson for Melanoma.  At this point in his treatment (which with Melanoma will last a life time) he is going in every three months for three full body checks ( 1st the RN, then the PA, and then the Oncologist). He is x-rayed and tested for cancer in his liver.  By request of MDA, in between the visits, he is seen by his dermatologist. 

Melanoma is so aggresive, the sooner you catch it, the better the outcome.

Who is your husband's oncologist at MDA?  My sister sees Dr. Kim every three months and also gets a CT scan, MRI and bloodwork.  So far she is doing very good.

 Carolyn

Hi This is Roe,,,,, I am going to have my MRI on Tuesday, and will get my test results on May 1,,,please this in prayer for me. I have been dealing with Liposarcoma for 20 years now of my life. I am on Gemzar alot of the meds gave me bad reactions.  They are thinking of giving me some expermential drug. The cancer is in my kidney and I only have one kidney, so that should tell it all.

Please keep in touch, if you would like to talk , leave your number and i will call you back.

Roe M.

Hi,

 I can see you have gotten lots of replies already telling you to go further.  I am suggesting the same thing.  Almost 3 years ago, I had a small mole on my thigh/bottom.  Same thing, really small, wide excision, and lets just do body check ups.  My derm really was great and didn't take a chance on questioning any spot.  I had asked about SNB and was reassured I had less than a 5% chance of ever dealing with this cancer again.  Well, 3 years later, I am wishing I would have pushed for SNB, any x-rays, scans available along with blood work.  I am the one cutting my life short, not them.  I am the one fighting for answers.  I am home recoverying from a lymphedectomy now.  It has been 8 days since the surgery.  Still in much pain.  Got the results back.  Negative on all.  I was positive on the first surgery when one had become swollen.  This surgery they removed 22 nodes in the pelvic area and 11 from the groin.  I am very happy with the news.  I will talk to my oncologist next week, and go further for treatments.  I will not full myself into thinking I won't go around with this beast some more by the time I get further into my treatments, it is just the pattern of it.  If I was you, I would fill myself with all the info I could on Melanoma and walk into the docs office and start telling them what you know, and what your thinking about the direction you should be taking with your body to make you feel better.  That is the only way.  I did that the 2nd time around, and they were quick to understand that I had plenty of knowledge on the disease and wasn't about to be blinded. It is your life that hangs in the balance!  Good luck and you will be in my prayers!

Kim, Indiana 

My sister had bio-chemotherapy treatment at M D Anderson.  That is three chemo drugs along with Interlukin and Interferon.  She had to be hospitalized during each of the five day treatments.  She had the bio-chemo six times each being two weeks apart.

 During the treatments, she got very sick, lost her hair, etc. but those treatments saved her life.  Her last treatment was in May of 2007 and so she is one year in remission.  She goes to MDA every 90 days for scans and blood work and has passed each time.

Her doctor at MDA in the melanoma dept. is Dr. Kim.  She loves him and would recommend him highly.  I don't know if you can request a certain doctor or not but he is a very good one.

 Best of luck to you and the patient.  Let me know if you would like my sister's e-mail address to correspond with her.

Narn