Need advice- had RLND, now have severe cyto. atypia on same leg

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Need advice- had RLND, now have severe cyto. atypia on same leg

  • Post
    • January 29, 2016 at 7:50 am
    mamatupou
    Participant

      Hey all, it has been a long time:) Happy to be 6 years away from diagnosis!

      So, went to derm and had some biopsies done. OF course I have some basal cell stuff. I feel like I will have my whole face redone 1 inch at a time. However, the other biopsy was on my right leg.

      This poor leg has had two surgeries, one to remove the original tumor and one to remove my lymph nodes (RLND). This new pathology shows a "compound nevus ( associated architectural disorder and severe cytologic atypia)

      So here is where I need advice. The derm wants to do a wide excision. My concern is the complications that come with surgery on this leg. Is it severe enough to take my chances, or is it so unlikely to become melanoma that I don't do the surgery and take my chances?

      I would love to hear straight forward answers. pro/cons, the good the bad and the ugly.

      I have 4 kids under 13 and need to make smart health decisions. I try to make educated conservative decisions, but I feel like I am making decisions on 5 yr old information.

      thanks ahead of time

      sarah

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        • January 29, 2016 at 8:31 am
        stars
        Participant

          Ah tough decision. The great news is: it's not a melanoma, and may never become one. On the flip side, after having melanoma, we all need to be super cautious about getting clean margins/recommended margins etc. In your shoes, I would get a surgeon's second opinion about the impact of surgery (not the derms). That might either clear up any concerns you have OR provide some alternative course of action.

          • January 29, 2016 at 8:31 am
          stars
          Participant

            Ah tough decision. The great news is: it's not a melanoma, and may never become one. On the flip side, after having melanoma, we all need to be super cautious about getting clean margins/recommended margins etc. In your shoes, I would get a surgeon's second opinion about the impact of surgery (not the derms). That might either clear up any concerns you have OR provide some alternative course of action.

              • January 30, 2016 at 8:01 am
              mamatupou
              Participant

                thanks – that is what my husband thinks too!

                • January 30, 2016 at 8:01 am
                mamatupou
                Participant

                  thanks – that is what my husband thinks too!

                  • January 30, 2016 at 8:01 am
                  mamatupou
                  Participant

                    thanks – that is what my husband thinks too!

                  • January 29, 2016 at 8:31 am
                  stars
                  Participant

                    Ah tough decision. The great news is: it's not a melanoma, and may never become one. On the flip side, after having melanoma, we all need to be super cautious about getting clean margins/recommended margins etc. In your shoes, I would get a surgeon's second opinion about the impact of surgery (not the derms). That might either clear up any concerns you have OR provide some alternative course of action.

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