Ulceration

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Ulceration

  • Post
    • March 23, 2016 at 4:40 pm
    CCJ
    Participant

      Hi..,would someone mind explaining to me what exactly 'ulceration' is which you hear of often and is in the pathology reports. 

      Does it mean crusting on the surface of the mole? Or is it the skin has erupted on top of the mole?

      Thanks in advance 

      Carolyn 

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • March 23, 2016 at 5:00 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          This is a pathological determination only.  Basically, if the epidermis is compromised, there is ulceration.  Official definition from a path site below.  This is not something that can be determined from just looking at a lesion, it has to be evaluated by a pathologist from a microscopic view.

          Ulceration: Ulceration is the sloughing of dead tissue. This can sometimes occur in the center of a melanoma lesion. The presence of ulceration is incorporated into the staging classification of a melanoma. Ulceration is thought to reflect rapid tumor growth, which leads to the death of cells in the center of the melanoma.

          • March 23, 2016 at 5:00 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            This is a pathological determination only.  Basically, if the epidermis is compromised, there is ulceration.  Official definition from a path site below.  This is not something that can be determined from just looking at a lesion, it has to be evaluated by a pathologist from a microscopic view.

            Ulceration: Ulceration is the sloughing of dead tissue. This can sometimes occur in the center of a melanoma lesion. The presence of ulceration is incorporated into the staging classification of a melanoma. Ulceration is thought to reflect rapid tumor growth, which leads to the death of cells in the center of the melanoma.

              • March 23, 2016 at 9:05 pm
              CCJ
              Participant

                Thank you very much Janner. That's a big help. Also thank you for the way you generously impart your words of knowledge, wisdom and experience to many people on this site. I've found many other comments you've said very helpful and it sounds like so many others have too so thank you for giving of your time and thoughts. 

                I've just got one other quick question that you can possibly answer…what exactly is  'primary' mole? I see you've mentioned before that you've had 3 primaries and I was just wondering what exactly that means? I'm still awaiting my husband's results of WLE. In the UK this seems to take a long time!

                 

                 

                • March 23, 2016 at 9:05 pm
                CCJ
                Participant

                  Thank you very much Janner. That's a big help. Also thank you for the way you generously impart your words of knowledge, wisdom and experience to many people on this site. I've found many other comments you've said very helpful and it sounds like so many others have too so thank you for giving of your time and thoughts. 

                  I've just got one other quick question that you can possibly answer…what exactly is  'primary' mole? I see you've mentioned before that you've had 3 primaries and I was just wondering what exactly that means? I'm still awaiting my husband's results of WLE. In the UK this seems to take a long time!

                   

                   

                  • March 23, 2016 at 9:05 pm
                  CCJ
                  Participant

                    Thank you very much Janner. That's a big help. Also thank you for the way you generously impart your words of knowledge, wisdom and experience to many people on this site. I've found many other comments you've said very helpful and it sounds like so many others have too so thank you for giving of your time and thoughts. 

                    I've just got one other quick question that you can possibly answer…what exactly is  'primary' mole? I see you've mentioned before that you've had 3 primaries and I was just wondering what exactly that means? I'm still awaiting my husband's results of WLE. In the UK this seems to take a long time!

                     

                     

                    • March 23, 2016 at 9:44 pm
                    Janner
                    Participant

                      Primary means original instance.  So I've had 3 separate instances of melanoma but they are NOT related.  None of them are a recurrence of another one on my body.  They were 3 moles that independently mutated into melanoma.  Each has a depth and a stage.  Recurrences are when you have spread from a primary site to a secondary site – either skin or lymph nodes or organs.  To date, I have had a melanoma lesion/mole on each lower leg and one on my back.  Does this make sense?

                      • March 23, 2016 at 9:44 pm
                      Janner
                      Participant

                        Primary means original instance.  So I've had 3 separate instances of melanoma but they are NOT related.  None of them are a recurrence of another one on my body.  They were 3 moles that independently mutated into melanoma.  Each has a depth and a stage.  Recurrences are when you have spread from a primary site to a secondary site – either skin or lymph nodes or organs.  To date, I have had a melanoma lesion/mole on each lower leg and one on my back.  Does this make sense?

                        • March 23, 2016 at 9:44 pm
                        Janner
                        Participant

                          Primary means original instance.  So I've had 3 separate instances of melanoma but they are NOT related.  None of them are a recurrence of another one on my body.  They were 3 moles that independently mutated into melanoma.  Each has a depth and a stage.  Recurrences are when you have spread from a primary site to a secondary site – either skin or lymph nodes or organs.  To date, I have had a melanoma lesion/mole on each lower leg and one on my back.  Does this make sense?

                          • March 23, 2016 at 11:41 pm
                          CCJ
                          Participant

                            Perfect sense…thank you. You manage to explain clearly and easily what websites and other sources fail to do. 

                            You're an asset and an encouragement to this forum. You're one of the success stories that many people here long to hear about. Thank you. 

                            • March 23, 2016 at 11:41 pm
                            CCJ
                            Participant

                              Perfect sense…thank you. You manage to explain clearly and easily what websites and other sources fail to do. 

                              You're an asset and an encouragement to this forum. You're one of the success stories that many people here long to hear about. Thank you. 

                              • March 23, 2016 at 11:41 pm
                              CCJ
                              Participant

                                Perfect sense…thank you. You manage to explain clearly and easily what websites and other sources fail to do. 

                                You're an asset and an encouragement to this forum. You're one of the success stories that many people here long to hear about. Thank you. 

                              • March 23, 2016 at 5:00 pm
                              Janner
                              Participant

                                This is a pathological determination only.  Basically, if the epidermis is compromised, there is ulceration.  Official definition from a path site below.  This is not something that can be determined from just looking at a lesion, it has to be evaluated by a pathologist from a microscopic view.

                                Ulceration: Ulceration is the sloughing of dead tissue. This can sometimes occur in the center of a melanoma lesion. The presence of ulceration is incorporated into the staging classification of a melanoma. Ulceration is thought to reflect rapid tumor growth, which leads to the death of cells in the center of the melanoma.

                            Viewing 2 reply threads

                            Tagged: 

                            • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                            About the MRF Patient Forum

                            The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

                            The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.

                            Popular Topics