MELANOMA

TREMAINTX@AOL.COM · Guest

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THE MELANOMA HAS SPREAD? WHAT ORGANS, IF ANY, DOES IT AFFECT? HOW DOES IT KILL?

leo · Contributor Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1575

Hello

Melanoma is a very aggressive tumor. The most well-described factor that predicts if the tumor has or is likelly to spread is the depth of invasion of the initial lesion. There are 2 classifications for this: Clarke and Breslow

[quote]Clarke's Level
The first way tells us through which layers of the skin the melanoma has penetrated. When the skin is viewed under a microscope there are several distinct layers, each with a different appearance. The pathologist assigns a "Clarke's Level" between one and five. This is always written with Roman Numerals. Level I is the least deep, just penetrating the outer epidermis of the skin. Level V is the deepest, down into the fat beneath the skin. The Clarke's Level is different than the "Stage" of the melanoma, which is also written in Roman Numerals.

Breslow Depth
This system describes the actual thickness of the melanoma in millimeters. This is also used because the skin has different thickness on different parts of the body. The skin on the back is very thick; but the skin on the face is very thin. We usually divide patients into four groups based on thickness:

* less than 0.76mm (about 1/32 of an inch)
* 0.76-1.5 mm (1/32 to 1/16 of an inch)
* 1.5-4mm (1/16 to 1/6 of an inch)
* >4mm (over 1/6 of an inch)
[/quote]

To know whether it has spread one needs to define the clinical stage of disease, that can be done by sampling lymphnodes and doing radiologic studies such as CT scans and others.

Melanoma can kill in a number of ways, such as lesions inside the brain, lesions in the lungs, bones etc. There are so many different things it can cause, such as infections, obstructions.

regards,
Leo
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Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

JackieDoss · Guest

The first place melanoma spreads other than the skin is the lymph nodes -- usually the closest lymph node basin to the primary site. For instance, my primary site was my upper left back. When the cancer returned in less than 2 years, it was in the lymph node basin under my left arm. I happened to be able to feel the tumor, but that is not always the case. If your primary tumor is over 1 mm, the standard protocol is to do a sentinal lymph node biopsy, which will show if any cancer cells have migrated to the lymph nodes. However, if your primary tumor was smaller than that, they don't do an SNB. So, unless you suspect that there's a problem (pain or node enlargement). you probably won't know that melanoma has spread. And most doctors will not run CT scans unless there's a reason.

If melanoma goes to your lymph nodes, you are classified as Stage III, and usually the protocol at that point is to continue to have regular CT scans, or at least X-rays. That's the only way to detect melanoma. There is no blood test, so microscopic spread isn't possible to detect.

If you ahve more questions about melanoma and would like to hear about experiences from melanoma patients, visit www.MPIP.org. It's a lively bulletin board dedicated to melanoma patients and their loved ones. There's even a chat room.

Pastor Rich · Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:55 am Post subject: Re: MELANOMA

Hello all;

This has explained a lot!

Just over 10 years ago I had a mole change colour. The 1st biopsy was inconclusive, then I waited almost 6 weeks for an appointment at the cancer clinic.

At the clinic they simply removed the mole and sent me home. Two weeks later I went back to find it was melanoma, but so very very small that it was well below any of the sizes mentioned here.

I went back every 6 months for 2 years and have been watching other moles and trying to stay out of the sun ever since.

Recently, with my wife's breast cancer, I began to wonder why they never tested me the same way they did her, with SNB, etc.... Now I know why.

So, thanks for this info.

Blessings,
Pastor Rich

LUPTA · Guest

WHAT OR WHERE DOES MELANOMA AFFECT THE BODY? AND WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THIS CANCER? WHAT KINDS OF SYMPTOMS DO THEY GET? AND WHAT KIND OF TREATMENTS ARE THERE TO BE CURED OR NOT/

Dorothy · New User Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 1

MY 75 YO HUSBAND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH METASTATIC MELANOMA SKIN CANCER OF THE LUNG IN JANUARY 2004. HE IS STARTING TO HAVE SYMPTOMS OF NUMBNESS IN HIS TOES AND WEAKNESS IN HIS LEGS. HE CONTINUES TO PLAY GOLF AND GO ANYWHERE HE DESIRES. HE IS A VERY STRONG PERSON. HE CONTINUES TO HAVE CT SCANS AND IT SHOWS THAT SOME OF THE NODULES ARE THE SAME AND MORE HAVE APPEARED. HE IS TAKING CHEMO EACH MONDAY X 3 AND OFF ONE WEEK AND SEES THE DOCTOR AND THEN ON AGAIN FOR 3 MORE. THE CHEMO DOES NOT MAKE HIM NAUSEATED BUT IT IS CAUSING THESE OTHER SYMPTOMS. HE HAS A MASS LESION MEASURING ABOUT 5.0X6.2CM IN THE LEFT CHEST. HOW LARGE IS THIS? HE IS ON COUMDIN 7.5 TO 10. THIS IS EVERY OTHER DAY. DOES THIS HELP TO REDUCE THE MASS?
BLESSINGS,
DOROTHY

Illini · Regular Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 16

Lupta,
Melanoma can spread to the lungs, bones, brain just about any organ in the body.

Illini · Regular Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 16

yes there are blood tests to check for cancer tumor markers, not cancer itself but markers. My doctor told me the same crap, like i was an idiot or something, CA 19-9 test, CEA CRATE and a bunch of other tests that check for cancer markers. If it has spread to one of the lymph nodes youd have to do alot of the blood tests to see exactly where it has spread to to check em all but it would at least tell you. How do you think they used to tell people they had cancer back in the day before all the cat scan and mri and pet scan stuff.

Illini · Regular Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 16

Also Leo lets say melanoma has went to stage V (5) is that even treatable? lets say if it was in your hands or something or feet ?

matynne · Regular Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 23

Hi,

Stage 5 Melanomas are very difficult to treat due to their spread to lymph nodes and other parts of body.

This includes remocal of palpable lymph nodes , sentinel lymph node dissection in cases of non-palpable lymph nodes, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

The 5 year survival rate is about 14% in late stage melanomas.

Also these people generally are more inclined to develop another melanoma in future. So regular examination is important.

Hope it helps
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