› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Mets from one side to the other?
- This topic has 18 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 2 months ago by
killmel.
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- October 8, 2011 at 1:46 am
Hey all,
Hey all,
Hoping someone is home on a Friday night…last night as I was falling asleep I noticed what feels like a small but swollen, sore lymph node in the left groin. I fell asleep and forgot about it until just now when I felt it again. Could mel have jumped from the right side to the left and so quickly? I just had scans on 9/6 which only showed the mel in the right groin and the LND was done just a few days later on 9/9. I know there are multiple reasons for lymph nodes to get irritated, but I have rarely ever had groin ones swell throughout my life.
I see an oncologist for consult on Monday and my surgeon on Tuesday, but I think I am going to need some reassurance to get through the weekend.
Many thanks,
Jacki
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- October 8, 2011 at 3:09 am
Jacki, I have checked your profile and feel that it is wise to be suspicious of anything unusual in your lymph nodes. This is because melanoma cells will tend to form tumours in the lymph system, as you have experienced in the past.
Unfortunately, melanoma cells can form tumours in areas that are some distance away from the primary lesion. They may be kept from doing this by the immune system.
As you know there reasons other than melanoma to explain why a node could be inflamed. However, as you where diagnosed in May 2010 I feel that you should consult your oncologist about this soon.
Hope this helps.
Frank from Australia
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- October 8, 2011 at 3:09 am
Jacki, I have checked your profile and feel that it is wise to be suspicious of anything unusual in your lymph nodes. This is because melanoma cells will tend to form tumours in the lymph system, as you have experienced in the past.
Unfortunately, melanoma cells can form tumours in areas that are some distance away from the primary lesion. They may be kept from doing this by the immune system.
As you know there reasons other than melanoma to explain why a node could be inflamed. However, as you where diagnosed in May 2010 I feel that you should consult your oncologist about this soon.
Hope this helps.
Frank from Australia
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- October 8, 2011 at 3:09 am
Jacki, I have checked your profile and feel that it is wise to be suspicious of anything unusual in your lymph nodes. This is because melanoma cells will tend to form tumours in the lymph system, as you have experienced in the past.
Unfortunately, melanoma cells can form tumours in areas that are some distance away from the primary lesion. They may be kept from doing this by the immune system.
As you know there reasons other than melanoma to explain why a node could be inflamed. However, as you where diagnosed in May 2010 I feel that you should consult your oncologist about this soon.
Hope this helps.
Frank from Australia
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- October 8, 2011 at 3:32 am
Thanks, Frank. I will talk to both doctors in a few days. Just worried like crazy now. I just had the impression that the mel cells tend to follow the path of the lymph system and that jumping from one side of the body to the other so quickly, and with no other mets, would be unlikely. I thought I read that somewhere, but can't find it now.
I'll keep saying my prayers!
Jacki
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- October 8, 2011 at 3:32 am
Thanks, Frank. I will talk to both doctors in a few days. Just worried like crazy now. I just had the impression that the mel cells tend to follow the path of the lymph system and that jumping from one side of the body to the other so quickly, and with no other mets, would be unlikely. I thought I read that somewhere, but can't find it now.
I'll keep saying my prayers!
Jacki
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- October 8, 2011 at 3:32 am
Thanks, Frank. I will talk to both doctors in a few days. Just worried like crazy now. I just had the impression that the mel cells tend to follow the path of the lymph system and that jumping from one side of the body to the other so quickly, and with no other mets, would be unlikely. I thought I read that somewhere, but can't find it now.
I'll keep saying my prayers!
Jacki
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- October 8, 2011 at 4:13 am
Jacki, please try not to be too concerned about this. There is nothing to indicate the possibility of any further spread, so that is a good sign.
The problem is that we just don't know if it is really a new met, or if it is something benign. Yes, the cells do follow the lymph channels but we don't know how far they might have traveled nor do we know if they have decided to form a tumour at the spot that you have found.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Frank from Australia
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- October 8, 2011 at 4:13 am
Jacki, please try not to be too concerned about this. There is nothing to indicate the possibility of any further spread, so that is a good sign.
The problem is that we just don't know if it is really a new met, or if it is something benign. Yes, the cells do follow the lymph channels but we don't know how far they might have traveled nor do we know if they have decided to form a tumour at the spot that you have found.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Frank from Australia
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- October 8, 2011 at 4:13 am
Jacki, please try not to be too concerned about this. There is nothing to indicate the possibility of any further spread, so that is a good sign.
The problem is that we just don't know if it is really a new met, or if it is something benign. Yes, the cells do follow the lymph channels but we don't know how far they might have traveled nor do we know if they have decided to form a tumour at the spot that you have found.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Frank from Australia
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- October 9, 2011 at 1:42 am
Jacki,
Here's how I handle stuff like this….(and I do check my skin and lymph nodes daily, like in the shower and dressing, etc). IF I find something that looks or feels like a change I take a deep breath and then say to myself: " Ok I dont know if this is melanoma or not, but if it is, I am glad I have found it EARLY". Then I make a plan to call my oncologist or dermatologist when their office is next open and have it checked. This has really helped my anxiety. I turn it around from "OH NO more melanoma maybe to I am finding concerns EARLY." Congratulate yourself for being vigilant and then taking action. All the worry in the world wont make melanoma disappear, but realizing whats positive can help with your anxiety. Try it, it works!
Vermont_Donna, stage 3a, NED now due to yervoy
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- October 9, 2011 at 1:42 am
Jacki,
Here's how I handle stuff like this….(and I do check my skin and lymph nodes daily, like in the shower and dressing, etc). IF I find something that looks or feels like a change I take a deep breath and then say to myself: " Ok I dont know if this is melanoma or not, but if it is, I am glad I have found it EARLY". Then I make a plan to call my oncologist or dermatologist when their office is next open and have it checked. This has really helped my anxiety. I turn it around from "OH NO more melanoma maybe to I am finding concerns EARLY." Congratulate yourself for being vigilant and then taking action. All the worry in the world wont make melanoma disappear, but realizing whats positive can help with your anxiety. Try it, it works!
Vermont_Donna, stage 3a, NED now due to yervoy
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- October 9, 2011 at 4:26 am
Thanks, Donna. I'm trying hard to stay positive. It seems so illogical to me that it can be mel, but mel is a bastard so I am worried. I do alright as long as I stay busy, but because it is sore I am noticing it from time to time throughout the day which sucks me right back into thinking/worrying about it. I'll try the mantra tho…."caught it early…caught it early". Thanks!!!
Jacki
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- October 9, 2011 at 4:26 am
Thanks, Donna. I'm trying hard to stay positive. It seems so illogical to me that it can be mel, but mel is a bastard so I am worried. I do alright as long as I stay busy, but because it is sore I am noticing it from time to time throughout the day which sucks me right back into thinking/worrying about it. I'll try the mantra tho…."caught it early…caught it early". Thanks!!!
Jacki
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- October 9, 2011 at 4:26 am
Thanks, Donna. I'm trying hard to stay positive. It seems so illogical to me that it can be mel, but mel is a bastard so I am worried. I do alright as long as I stay busy, but because it is sore I am noticing it from time to time throughout the day which sucks me right back into thinking/worrying about it. I'll try the mantra tho…."caught it early…caught it early". Thanks!!!
Jacki
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- October 9, 2011 at 1:42 am
Jacki,
Here's how I handle stuff like this….(and I do check my skin and lymph nodes daily, like in the shower and dressing, etc). IF I find something that looks or feels like a change I take a deep breath and then say to myself: " Ok I dont know if this is melanoma or not, but if it is, I am glad I have found it EARLY". Then I make a plan to call my oncologist or dermatologist when their office is next open and have it checked. This has really helped my anxiety. I turn it around from "OH NO more melanoma maybe to I am finding concerns EARLY." Congratulate yourself for being vigilant and then taking action. All the worry in the world wont make melanoma disappear, but realizing whats positive can help with your anxiety. Try it, it works!
Vermont_Donna, stage 3a, NED now due to yervoy
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