Newly diagnosed

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    • October 14, 2016 at 9:49 am
    Woodrow
    Participant

      My husband was diagnosed w stage 1 melanoma this week. His derm called and set him w a surgeon in the same town the dr lives in (90 miles away). We have a cancer center we could go to in St Louis (150 miles away). My question is should we go to a regular surgeon or to Siteman Cancer Center? The melanoma is located on his abdomen and requires general anesthesia and possibly sentinel node biopsy. Am I being too paranoid about this.  

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        • October 14, 2016 at 10:42 am
        stars
        Participant

          You'd have to post a bit more info – do you have the pathology report? Most important is Breslow depth. But in general, I would think a stage 1A melanoma could be treated locally with little need for much else. If you post a bit more info from the path report, you'll get more meaningful responses.

          • October 14, 2016 at 10:42 am
          stars
          Participant

            You'd have to post a bit more info – do you have the pathology report? Most important is Breslow depth. But in general, I would think a stage 1A melanoma could be treated locally with little need for much else. If you post a bit more info from the path report, you'll get more meaningful responses.

            • October 14, 2016 at 10:42 am
            stars
            Participant

              You'd have to post a bit more info – do you have the pathology report? Most important is Breslow depth. But in general, I would think a stage 1A melanoma could be treated locally with little need for much else. If you post a bit more info from the path report, you'll get more meaningful responses.

              • October 14, 2016 at 12:00 pm
              debwray
              Participant

                Hi,

                Sorry you are having to deal with this. If they are talking about a general anesthetic and sentinel node biopsy they are either being very cautious or there are features that mean they want to be more proactive.

                Useful points from the biopsy report would include miotic rate, breslow depth and any signs of itchyness or ulceration and site of lesion.

                I would be tempted to  go to the cancer centre even though it is more travelling as you ideally want a plastic surgeon experienced in melanoma to be doing the procedure, if a SNB is needed.

                Best wishes

                Deb

                 

                 

                • October 14, 2016 at 12:00 pm
                debwray
                Participant

                  Hi,

                  Sorry you are having to deal with this. If they are talking about a general anesthetic and sentinel node biopsy they are either being very cautious or there are features that mean they want to be more proactive.

                  Useful points from the biopsy report would include miotic rate, breslow depth and any signs of itchyness or ulceration and site of lesion.

                  I would be tempted to  go to the cancer centre even though it is more travelling as you ideally want a plastic surgeon experienced in melanoma to be doing the procedure, if a SNB is needed.

                  Best wishes

                  Deb

                   

                   

                  • October 14, 2016 at 12:00 pm
                  debwray
                  Participant

                    Hi,

                    Sorry you are having to deal with this. If they are talking about a general anesthetic and sentinel node biopsy they are either being very cautious or there are features that mean they want to be more proactive.

                    Useful points from the biopsy report would include miotic rate, breslow depth and any signs of itchyness or ulceration and site of lesion.

                    I would be tempted to  go to the cancer centre even though it is more travelling as you ideally want a plastic surgeon experienced in melanoma to be doing the procedure, if a SNB is needed.

                    Best wishes

                    Deb

                     

                     

                      • October 14, 2016 at 4:33 pm
                      Woodrow
                      Participant

                        Thank you for replies. This might help: Clark level 4, Miotic index1-2 mm2, breslows depth 0.95, peripheral involved. Maybe I am overreacting but my husband is 79 yrs old & has never been sick before, just concerned we r doing everything we can.

                        • October 14, 2016 at 9:33 pm
                        stars
                        Participant

                          So it's quite a thin melanoma (under 1mm) but has some aggressive features (mitosis), plus it's not yet completely excised (peripheral involved, meaning the biopsy is incomplete). You are doing everything right, a SLNB should be offered in these circumstances because there is a small chance that it might have started to reach nearest lymph nodes. Go with the cancer centre if its not great trouble… otherwise, you seem to be getting great advice adn care where you are. Chin up, it's a thin melanoma and there's a good chance that after the SLNB and WLE the whole ordeal is behind you with just regular ongoing monitoring required.

                          • October 14, 2016 at 9:33 pm
                          stars
                          Participant

                            So it's quite a thin melanoma (under 1mm) but has some aggressive features (mitosis), plus it's not yet completely excised (peripheral involved, meaning the biopsy is incomplete). You are doing everything right, a SLNB should be offered in these circumstances because there is a small chance that it might have started to reach nearest lymph nodes. Go with the cancer centre if its not great trouble… otherwise, you seem to be getting great advice adn care where you are. Chin up, it's a thin melanoma and there's a good chance that after the SLNB and WLE the whole ordeal is behind you with just regular ongoing monitoring required.

                            • October 14, 2016 at 9:33 pm
                            stars
                            Participant

                              So it's quite a thin melanoma (under 1mm) but has some aggressive features (mitosis), plus it's not yet completely excised (peripheral involved, meaning the biopsy is incomplete). You are doing everything right, a SLNB should be offered in these circumstances because there is a small chance that it might have started to reach nearest lymph nodes. Go with the cancer centre if its not great trouble… otherwise, you seem to be getting great advice adn care where you are. Chin up, it's a thin melanoma and there's a good chance that after the SLNB and WLE the whole ordeal is behind you with just regular ongoing monitoring required.

                              • October 14, 2016 at 4:33 pm
                              Woodrow
                              Participant

                                Thank you for replies. This might help: Clark level 4, Miotic index1-2 mm2, breslows depth 0.95, peripheral involved. Maybe I am overreacting but my husband is 79 yrs old & has never been sick before, just concerned we r doing everything we can.

                                • October 14, 2016 at 4:33 pm
                                Woodrow
                                Participant

                                  Thank you for replies. This might help: Clark level 4, Miotic index1-2 mm2, breslows depth 0.95, peripheral involved. Maybe I am overreacting but my husband is 79 yrs old & has never been sick before, just concerned we r doing everything we can.

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