Diagnosed melanoma. Stage unkown. See details.

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  • Post
    • August 5, 2012 at 4:02 pm
    Vernon123
    Participant
      Hi. My daughter (14 years old) was diagnosed with superfiscial melanoma.
      Breslow 1.3
      No ulceration
      Clear margins
      Clark level 4
      Mitosis 4
      No satelites

      I tink I understand that the next crucial ting know is to determine if it has spread to the lymph nodes right? How likely is that to happen considering depths and the clear margins? Is that the worst case scenario? If so then what is next? Chemoterapi? Hard to even think such a thought.

      Would be glad to hear if some of you could light me up a bit on this field.

      Regards Jan

      Hi. My daughter (14 years old) was diagnosed with superfiscial melanoma.
      Breslow 1.3
      No ulceration
      Clear margins
      Clark level 4
      Mitosis 4
      No satelites

      I tink I understand that the next crucial ting know is to determine if it has spread to the lymph nodes right? How likely is that to happen considering depths and the clear margins? Is that the worst case scenario? If so then what is next? Chemoterapi? Hard to even think such a thought.

      Would be glad to hear if some of you could light me up a bit on this field.

      Regards Jan

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • August 5, 2012 at 6:46 pm
        DonW
        Participant

          Hi, Jan. Sorry your daughter has to deal with this, and at too young an age. With Breslow 1.3, she has what's considered intermediate thickness. The next step, as you mentioned, would be to check the lymph nodes via a sentinel node biopsy. The nearest draing lymph nodes would then be checked for melanoma. I think the odds are still very good that the nodes will be negative. The fact that there is no ulceration is a good sign. If a node was positive she would be offered treatment like interferon, but probably not chemo. If the nodes are negative, she would simply have follow ups every 3 months or so for a while.

          The worst case scenario would be that it has already spread beyond the nodes, but this is probably very unlikely.

          Make sure her doctors are melanoma specialists. The doc who does her SNB should be very experienced in this procedure. If not, I would seek treatment at a larger institution where they treat many melanoma patients.

          It looks like you live in Norway? That's exciting!

          • August 5, 2012 at 6:46 pm
          DonW
          Participant

            Hi, Jan. Sorry your daughter has to deal with this, and at too young an age. With Breslow 1.3, she has what's considered intermediate thickness. The next step, as you mentioned, would be to check the lymph nodes via a sentinel node biopsy. The nearest draing lymph nodes would then be checked for melanoma. I think the odds are still very good that the nodes will be negative. The fact that there is no ulceration is a good sign. If a node was positive she would be offered treatment like interferon, but probably not chemo. If the nodes are negative, she would simply have follow ups every 3 months or so for a while.

            The worst case scenario would be that it has already spread beyond the nodes, but this is probably very unlikely.

            Make sure her doctors are melanoma specialists. The doc who does her SNB should be very experienced in this procedure. If not, I would seek treatment at a larger institution where they treat many melanoma patients.

            It looks like you live in Norway? That's exciting!

            • August 5, 2012 at 6:46 pm
            DonW
            Participant

              Hi, Jan. Sorry your daughter has to deal with this, and at too young an age. With Breslow 1.3, she has what's considered intermediate thickness. The next step, as you mentioned, would be to check the lymph nodes via a sentinel node biopsy. The nearest draing lymph nodes would then be checked for melanoma. I think the odds are still very good that the nodes will be negative. The fact that there is no ulceration is a good sign. If a node was positive she would be offered treatment like interferon, but probably not chemo. If the nodes are negative, she would simply have follow ups every 3 months or so for a while.

              The worst case scenario would be that it has already spread beyond the nodes, but this is probably very unlikely.

              Make sure her doctors are melanoma specialists. The doc who does her SNB should be very experienced in this procedure. If not, I would seek treatment at a larger institution where they treat many melanoma patients.

              It looks like you live in Norway? That's exciting!

          Viewing 2 reply threads
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