CancerCompass message board discussion started by mariemerganser on 5/10/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23908,0.htm Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ For the past month my mother was doing Carac treatment on her face.  In the past she has had various basel cells removed and our family has history of Melanoma.  During the last week or so of her Carac treatment her dermatologist decided to do a punch biposy on two spots on her face (right next to the basel she had removed 5 years ago).  The results came back and the dermatologist told her that both lesions were Melanoma and one was 2mm and the other was 4mm.  He based her stage on that information and diagnosed her as Stage 2.Now, he has scheduled her for surgery to remove both growths but he told her that he couldn't schedule the surgery for 2 weeks due to her Carac treatment.  He said that her skin/face was too sensitive.  I'm worried that her doctor is not taking the right precautionary steps.  He is not encouraging her to get any tests done to make sure the cancer has not spread.  All the doctor wants to do is remove the growths.  Can someone please give me some advice.  Are these the correct steps?  Waiting 2 1/2 weeks seems to be a very long time to wait to get the melanoms removed.  Please help! mariemerganser Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I agree that the time period does seem excessive - but I assure you it is standard practice.  When my husband's biopsy came back as Melanoma, it was three weeks before he was scheduled for surgery.   It could have just as well been three years.  It was agonizing.In our case - additional procedures were not discussed until after the surgery, however he did have two lymph nodes removed at the same time as the removal of the tumor (it was on his arm).    This would help to determine if the cancer had spread. Removal of the melanoma requires the attempt to get all of the affected area.  In my husband's case his surgery site was aprox. 5 1/2" long and his skin was pulled so tight to close the site that he still has large dimples at each end (surgery was 10/07).  We were blessed that he did not require skin grafts.  I could understand the hardship it would cause if the skin around the site was healing and tender from previous treatments. My husband's site became infected, but we were able to catch it before it became serious because of watching for the redness.   I don't know how I would have felt watching for infection on skin that was already compromised.  I wish you the best through out this journey, you are in my thoughts and prayers.   Runabout Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT There is a treatment called Mohs surgery.  It is done by a dermatologist specializing in Mohs surgery.  The average dermatologist does not do this procedure.  They remove the area in layers until no cancerous cells remain.  It is an arduous process.  It can take several hours as the surgeon only will remove as much tissue that is needed and it is done a layer at a time and then you go to the waiting room and wait while the tissue is evaulated to determine if the process needs to be repeated. It can be done in a doctors office but again only by one who actually specializies in this treatment.  Then if necessary your mother can be referred to a plastic surgeon as it is on her face and when dealing with melanoma more than the actual size of the tumor needs to be removed.  The depth of the melanoma is important for staging.  Also, if there is any ulceration.  Pending on the depth etc. the dermatologist may require follow up chest x-rays and follow up to check for lymphadenopathy or any lymph node swelling which could indicate spread.  There is a sentinel lymph node biopsy that is sometimes done shortly after the initial tumor area is addressed and again factors such as the depth of the tumor etc. will determine if this is warranted in your mother's case.  Removing the tumor and staging is important now to determine her risk for future problems.  I wish her the best. Leemg Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT