Lymph Node Check Stage IIb Melanoma

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  • Post
    • October 14, 2014 at 10:53 pm
    KerriM
    Participant

      After posting my story and reading others stories can anyone tell me why some patients have a lymph node biopsy at state IIa/b and some don't. I just had a WLE twice to remove it all….now I am nervous that maybe I should have had something else checked. When I was first diagnosed I went to a general surgeon for removal of the mole as I had two negative biopsies so when it came back I was surprised. I now see a surgeon who specialized in Melanoma (Just had three WLE last week). Now I am nervous after reading that maybe I should have had more testing?

       

      Also – Does anyone else feel like they don't want to mention any small changes to their derm at their 6 month check ups because they have turned into a pin cushion? I can't believe I even feel this way and don't want to tell him about changes…am I nuts?

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    • Replies
        • October 14, 2014 at 11:13 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          What was your depth?  Typically anything deeper than 1mm would have the Sentinel Node Biopsy, at least in the states.  Not all countries have the same protocol if you are elsewhere.  There are some variations to the rule but typically if yours was deeper than 1mm, it should have been offered.  It's kind of late to do it once you have the WLE – especially 2 – because the drainage paths to the sentinel node are likely to be disturbed when removing a large chunk of skin.  Just checked your profile and it says you are stage 2.  You might ask your melanoma specialist if they can monitor the lymph basins via ultrasound, just a suggestion. 

          • October 14, 2014 at 11:13 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            What was your depth?  Typically anything deeper than 1mm would have the Sentinel Node Biopsy, at least in the states.  Not all countries have the same protocol if you are elsewhere.  There are some variations to the rule but typically if yours was deeper than 1mm, it should have been offered.  It's kind of late to do it once you have the WLE – especially 2 – because the drainage paths to the sentinel node are likely to be disturbed when removing a large chunk of skin.  Just checked your profile and it says you are stage 2.  You might ask your melanoma specialist if they can monitor the lymph basins via ultrasound, just a suggestion. 

            • October 14, 2014 at 11:13 pm
            Janner
            Participant

              What was your depth?  Typically anything deeper than 1mm would have the Sentinel Node Biopsy, at least in the states.  Not all countries have the same protocol if you are elsewhere.  There are some variations to the rule but typically if yours was deeper than 1mm, it should have been offered.  It's kind of late to do it once you have the WLE – especially 2 – because the drainage paths to the sentinel node are likely to be disturbed when removing a large chunk of skin.  Just checked your profile and it says you are stage 2.  You might ask your melanoma specialist if they can monitor the lymph basins via ultrasound, just a suggestion. 

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