General questions – my brother was recently informed he has malenoma

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  • Post
    • January 5, 2015 at 8:30 pm
    e6cag1u
    Participant

      HI there!

       

      I am looking for advice and feedback! My brother was told today that he has melanoma – he has it on his back. He showed it to me on Christmas and I urged him to go to the doctor to have it looked at. They cut it out and biopsied it, he had stitches out today and was told the results were melanoma.

      I am sorry but that's all he told us and that the doctor said he got it all when he did the biopsy and nothing else needs to be done about it.

      I don't believe that's all the doctor said, the growth was bigger than a nickle but smaller than a quarter and was about 1/8 of an inch or more raised off his backl…dark red/black/white and just plain ugly looking.

      Does this sound like something the doctor would say without further testing…that the biopsy "got it all"???

      I think my brother found out today that he has cancer and is choosing not to deal with it…

       

      Any feedback on experiences with melanoma and what happens after detection is greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone and I am sorry for those dealing with this disease!

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    • Replies
        • January 5, 2015 at 8:38 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          Yes, that could be a correct scenario.  And it could be incorrect, too.  The only way to know for sure is to get a copy of the pathology report.  Melanoma requires "margins" — clean skin with no melanoma cells typically 5mm to 1cm around the entire lesion.  If his skin removal achieved those margins, then that's it.  If the lesion was a little deeper, he should have had a surgical procedure to check his lymph nodes and may need larger clear margins

          Did he only have a biopsy?  Or did he go back in and have more skin removed?  Because if he only had the biopsy, then I would be a little suspect that he has adequate margins.  Again, the only way to know for sure would be looking at that pathology report.

          We can only speak in general terms here because we'd need more specific info to comment on your brother's treatment.  If you can get him to request the pathology report(s), then we could comment more specifically if the treatment seems to be appropriate.

          • January 5, 2015 at 8:38 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            Yes, that could be a correct scenario.  And it could be incorrect, too.  The only way to know for sure is to get a copy of the pathology report.  Melanoma requires "margins" — clean skin with no melanoma cells typically 5mm to 1cm around the entire lesion.  If his skin removal achieved those margins, then that's it.  If the lesion was a little deeper, he should have had a surgical procedure to check his lymph nodes and may need larger clear margins

            Did he only have a biopsy?  Or did he go back in and have more skin removed?  Because if he only had the biopsy, then I would be a little suspect that he has adequate margins.  Again, the only way to know for sure would be looking at that pathology report.

            We can only speak in general terms here because we'd need more specific info to comment on your brother's treatment.  If you can get him to request the pathology report(s), then we could comment more specifically if the treatment seems to be appropriate.

              • January 5, 2015 at 9:01 pm
              e6cag1u
              Participant

                thank you Janner!!!

                His first appointment on 12/26/14 – he went in to have them look at something that was bothering him and when I saw it – it was how I described previously – just scary looking, red/black/white and ulcerated (looked like puss or something coming from it) and not as big as a quarter.

                So he went to the appointment alone – and when he got home he had 8 stitches and said they were sending it in to get looked at. Today he got the stitches removed and was told it was melanoma and that the doctor had taken deeper area than the growth but that he thinks he got it all and nothing further needs to be done.

                So I am going to see if I can get a hold of the biopsy report and see what it says about the markers. Thanks for the info and i'll keep everyone informed!!!

                 

                thanks again!!! I super appreciate it!

                • January 5, 2015 at 9:01 pm
                e6cag1u
                Participant

                  thank you Janner!!!

                  His first appointment on 12/26/14 – he went in to have them look at something that was bothering him and when I saw it – it was how I described previously – just scary looking, red/black/white and ulcerated (looked like puss or something coming from it) and not as big as a quarter.

                  So he went to the appointment alone – and when he got home he had 8 stitches and said they were sending it in to get looked at. Today he got the stitches removed and was told it was melanoma and that the doctor had taken deeper area than the growth but that he thinks he got it all and nothing further needs to be done.

                  So I am going to see if I can get a hold of the biopsy report and see what it says about the markers. Thanks for the info and i'll keep everyone informed!!!

                   

                  thanks again!!! I super appreciate it!

                  • January 5, 2015 at 9:01 pm
                  e6cag1u
                  Participant

                    thank you Janner!!!

                    His first appointment on 12/26/14 – he went in to have them look at something that was bothering him and when I saw it – it was how I described previously – just scary looking, red/black/white and ulcerated (looked like puss or something coming from it) and not as big as a quarter.

                    So he went to the appointment alone – and when he got home he had 8 stitches and said they were sending it in to get looked at. Today he got the stitches removed and was told it was melanoma and that the doctor had taken deeper area than the growth but that he thinks he got it all and nothing further needs to be done.

                    So I am going to see if I can get a hold of the biopsy report and see what it says about the markers. Thanks for the info and i'll keep everyone informed!!!

                     

                    thanks again!!! I super appreciate it!

                  • January 5, 2015 at 8:38 pm
                  Janner
                  Participant

                    Yes, that could be a correct scenario.  And it could be incorrect, too.  The only way to know for sure is to get a copy of the pathology report.  Melanoma requires "margins" — clean skin with no melanoma cells typically 5mm to 1cm around the entire lesion.  If his skin removal achieved those margins, then that's it.  If the lesion was a little deeper, he should have had a surgical procedure to check his lymph nodes and may need larger clear margins

                    Did he only have a biopsy?  Or did he go back in and have more skin removed?  Because if he only had the biopsy, then I would be a little suspect that he has adequate margins.  Again, the only way to know for sure would be looking at that pathology report.

                    We can only speak in general terms here because we'd need more specific info to comment on your brother's treatment.  If you can get him to request the pathology report(s), then we could comment more specifically if the treatment seems to be appropriate.

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