Mucosa Melanoma

My husband was diagnosed with mucosa melanoma in May, 2005. I have not read anything on the message board about this particular melanoma. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has information on this type melanoma.

I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity last fall and had surgery to remove the tumor in early October. There was no lymph node involvement and no cancer elsewhere. Surgery was followed by six weeks of radiation. A PET/CT scan two weeks ago showed that my system was clean, but now I need to determine if there's any followup treatment that makes sense. I've already decided that Interferon is too toxic but am considering GM-CSF, which isn't FDA approved for this condition. Because this type of melanoma is so rare, there is no proven treatment for it and there don't seem to be any clinical trials going on because there simply aren't enough people for the trial. What treatment has been recommended for your husband? And where is or was the melanoma located?

Good Morning,

I am sorry to hear of the diagnosis. Of course you have probably started to read the definition of this Melanoma. It really is an uncommon type of melanoma that develops in the mucosal tissue that lines the nose, mouth, esophagus, anus, urinary tract and vagina. Mucosal melanomas are especially difficult to detect because they can easily be mistaken for other, far more common conditions. My husband was misdiagnosed for over a year.

My husband was diagnosed with GI Mucosal Melanoma. Primary site Anal Rectal Canal. Be very care everyone, when thinking the all fantastic Pet Scan will find your cancer. Remember the very small cancers will not be detected by the Pet Scan. My husband's Pet Scan was all clear in January. The latest MRI just found tumors on the kidney and liver, they have been determined to have been there in January.

And it is true there really is no cure. But the spreading can be slowed down possibly, if they find the tumors early and remove them.

I pray that all is well and the doctors you have been blessed with are well informed and truly on top of things.

Be blessed and keep posting your messages, I will keep reading. May you all stay strong and encouraged.



Gail Williams

My husband's mucosal melanoma was sino-nasal. He had surgery last summer to remove the tumor. He then had six weeks of radiation and two weeks of Interferon. His scans were clear until December when they found lesions on his lung and neck. We are now faced with the options of surgery to remove these, or entering a clinical trial. We met with a doctor at Baylor in Dallas today who told us about several trials going on.

I appreciate corresponding with you regarding this. It helps to know there are others going through what we are. I will let you know if and when we get further information regarding these clinical trials. It will depend on whether or not we do surgery again, which will depend on the results of the next scans.

I know this is an older message, I just found out that my aunt has contracted mucosal melonoma, it was discovered aug/sept 2005. Lympth node surgery was performed to prevent the spread of it. Unfortuntely,eEarlier this year a MRI showed that it had spread to my aunt's liver & lung. My aunt is seeking clinical trials right now, also she is being tested for certain tumor markers to see what clinical trials might work better than others.

There aren't many treatments for mucosal melanoma, I wish that there was more answers.

How is your husband doing? I pray for all those who are inflicted with any life threatening diease.

James Lee

For the past year we have been on a merry-go-round trip. After a PET scan revealed tumors in my husband's lung and neck, we were referred to MD Anderson. After tests there, our Dr. referred us to our present oncologist at UT Southwest in Dallas. My husband is receiving a chemo "cocktail" of three different drugs. He has been hospitalized twice with staph. It has been a very long, trying summer. Hopefully, however, we will see positive progress when new scans are done soon. Oh yes, he also has a new tumor on his head. It stuck up on his forehead like he had received a blow to the head when it was biopsied. However, since the chemo, that knot has disappeared. We are hoping the medication has played a positive role where the tumor is concerned.

hi my name is maria and i'm searching for information about this type of cancer my husband was diagnose with this type of cancer and we almost don't know anything about it. at first it was only melanoma it started on the inside of his mouth and the last surgery was on the lymph nodes on his neck and chick. please reply to my msg. he has had three surgeries the very last one was two weeks ago.
and we need help.



god bless every one that is fighting cancer:
keep fighting god is with all of us.

Hi, MimiP this is maria you said that your husband is receiving three diferent medications may I ask which treatment is he receiving one of them is chemo? and it has help with the tumor on his head?

My husband was diagnosed in July. He had a polyp in his nose that they thought was an "allergy polyp". After surgery and pathology it was confirmed as mucosa melanoma. He was brought back into surgery the next day. He was given a pet scan which said it had not spread.
He then went through radiation therapy.
He just had a cat scan and was told it was not recurring as of yet.
He will have another pet scan in 2 months.
This is very frustrating for me as I am constantly searching for info and find little to give us hope.
My husband is 44 years old and is in very good health other than this cancer and has even worked right through it all, other than a couple of days off after his surgeries.
I would love to hear from others going through this. I believe knowledge is power and maybe together we can locate something that may be of use to us all.
This is scary road we are all traveling.....
May God Bless and Be With You.......
Susan

Hi, Susan this is maria.
first of all how are you and your husband doing? you said that your husband was diagnosed in july and he already had radiations and as of now his cancer has not spread? May I ask how long ago he got his radiations.
My husbands cancer started in the inside of his mouth and it had spread to the lymph nodes on his neck. he had a surgery a couple of weeks ago and now is going through radiation.

I just feel very sad because there's just not much for this type of cancer I have been searching the web for information. but there's just not much.

God Bless You and your husband.....
maria..