› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Liver transplant with a mlanoma
- This topic has 3 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 9 years, 8 months ago by
Bubbles.
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- July 3, 2016 at 6:37 pm
I received a liver in February 23, 2016 and have just had a growth removed from my nose on June 16, 2016. The biopsy report diagnosed a melanoma that was 1.4x.9x.6 cm under the skin. This was to be a scar tissue removal where a mohs procedure was done to remove a squamus cell growth on my nose 2 years ago. This was a total surprise as I have been through so many scans and tests to qualify and receive a liver transplant. The Dermatologist said it is a very rare melanoma and He thinks I will need to have a large portion of my nose removed and rebuilt to remove the cancer. As you can imagine I am on high doses of anti rejection drugs and my immune system is very depressed and fighting this cancer will be a challenge.
Does anyone have any insight on this topic ?
I do have appointments set up with a meanoma center in San Francisco to consult with a surgeon and melanoma specialist.
Thanks for any responce.
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- July 4, 2016 at 12:24 pm
My best and only real advice is to see a melanoma specialist as soon as possible.
Years ago (there is an article reporting this case study) it was determined that a donor recipient had indeed contracted melanoma from a donor liver. Since that event, folks with melanoma are no longer allowed to donate their organs or even blood (though some others on this forum have stated that they knew otherwise re blood donation…so take that for what it is worth). I suppose you could have contracted melanoma that way…though in light of this known state of things….organ collection teams are very aware of this possibility and take precauti9ns to prevent it. Additionally, I imagine it is possible that that rejection prevention meds (ie immune suppressing drugs) donor recipients take could have decreased your immune system's ability to fight off melanoma that you already had.
However, here is my best hope….that your dermatologist has confused melanocytic cells within your squamous cell skin cancer with melanoma. Squamous cell carcinoma, while not metastatic, can be very invasive and cause tumors in the face, nose and ears that are invasive to the tissue with measurements like you have described. While dealing with that will not be fun…it is better than having melanoma which can be deadly.
So…..that is what I am hoping for you. See a melanoma specialist to make sure EXACTLY what you are dealing with. Should it be melanoma, however, treatments have improved dramatically in the past 5 years and the specialist ahould be able to get you on your best path for that if needed.
I wish you well. Celeste
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- July 4, 2016 at 12:24 pm
My best and only real advice is to see a melanoma specialist as soon as possible.
Years ago (there is an article reporting this case study) it was determined that a donor recipient had indeed contracted melanoma from a donor liver. Since that event, folks with melanoma are no longer allowed to donate their organs or even blood (though some others on this forum have stated that they knew otherwise re blood donation…so take that for what it is worth). I suppose you could have contracted melanoma that way…though in light of this known state of things….organ collection teams are very aware of this possibility and take precauti9ns to prevent it. Additionally, I imagine it is possible that that rejection prevention meds (ie immune suppressing drugs) donor recipients take could have decreased your immune system's ability to fight off melanoma that you already had.
However, here is my best hope….that your dermatologist has confused melanocytic cells within your squamous cell skin cancer with melanoma. Squamous cell carcinoma, while not metastatic, can be very invasive and cause tumors in the face, nose and ears that are invasive to the tissue with measurements like you have described. While dealing with that will not be fun…it is better than having melanoma which can be deadly.
So…..that is what I am hoping for you. See a melanoma specialist to make sure EXACTLY what you are dealing with. Should it be melanoma, however, treatments have improved dramatically in the past 5 years and the specialist ahould be able to get you on your best path for that if needed.
I wish you well. Celeste
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- July 4, 2016 at 12:24 pm
My best and only real advice is to see a melanoma specialist as soon as possible.
Years ago (there is an article reporting this case study) it was determined that a donor recipient had indeed contracted melanoma from a donor liver. Since that event, folks with melanoma are no longer allowed to donate their organs or even blood (though some others on this forum have stated that they knew otherwise re blood donation…so take that for what it is worth). I suppose you could have contracted melanoma that way…though in light of this known state of things….organ collection teams are very aware of this possibility and take precauti9ns to prevent it. Additionally, I imagine it is possible that that rejection prevention meds (ie immune suppressing drugs) donor recipients take could have decreased your immune system's ability to fight off melanoma that you already had.
However, here is my best hope….that your dermatologist has confused melanocytic cells within your squamous cell skin cancer with melanoma. Squamous cell carcinoma, while not metastatic, can be very invasive and cause tumors in the face, nose and ears that are invasive to the tissue with measurements like you have described. While dealing with that will not be fun…it is better than having melanoma which can be deadly.
So…..that is what I am hoping for you. See a melanoma specialist to make sure EXACTLY what you are dealing with. Should it be melanoma, however, treatments have improved dramatically in the past 5 years and the specialist ahould be able to get you on your best path for that if needed.
I wish you well. Celeste
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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