Just found out I have melanoma :(

RacerX · Regular Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 14

I've had a mole on my right cheek for sometime that has been getting bigger. Looking back at photos, I have a pic from Aug '07 where it is very small... and then one in Feb '08 and it's much larger... and larger now. It's about the size of a pencil eraser... I had a biopsy and it's melanoma. Which while I had a feeling it would be, deep down I thought it would be ok.

I'll be making an appointment with a surgeon to have the whole thing removed, which I assume at that time they'll do the tests to determine what stage it's at and if it's localized or not.

Cancer isn't new to me... my sister had non-hodgkin's lymphoma and died many years ago, and my best friend has chondrosarchoma... which while they have removed it several times, it continues to come back and keep growing.

My question to the group would be is it a good thing or bad that the mole has grown at the rate it has in the time period that we've been able to see thru the pics? Or is that a bad thing??

And 2) Does melanoma start as melanoma, or does it start as a normal mole? In other words, could this have been a normal mole for some time and maybe only turned into melanoma more recently?

Thanks!

brainman

RacerX, I am very sorry about your cancer. Any change is reason for concern. However, it sounds like it is still relatively small and that is good.

I know that some benign moles can mutate into malignant cancers. However, I am not sure what type of skin cancer they can change into. I hope someone else will have better answers for you.

You are in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us informed.
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In

RacerX...

I'm sorry about your Cancer- It's great though, you found it early, by the sounds of it. The face is a difficult area to have Melanoma. There is not alot of fatty tissue to remove if it is a wider spreed Melanoma.

To me- and NO expert for sure Wink

But if you can see the growth over those pictures, I would say slow growing. BUT you wouldn't know this till they remove it- you never know what is under the skin.

I deal in my career- with alot of skin diseases and Conditions- and that is my understanding of it.

Let us know how you go.
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Jotto · Regular Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 47 Location: Biloxi MS

Sorry to hear about your melanoma. They like to catch them when they are the size of a pencil eraser or smaller. You need to find out the clark level which is the depth of the cancer, and if its ulcerated. Ulcerated means it has a scab and those usually won't heal.

They can't tell when it changes, but your correct that alot of moles change over time.

Your stage will be determined by the clark level and the SNLB if one is performed. You have a great chance of being stage 0 or 1. If the SNLB isn't performed then you are one of those stages.

I am praying your level 0 or 1, inceasing your cure rate. Now that you have been diagnosed with melanoma take pictures of your body with a ruler to keep track of any spot that concerns you or the doctor. Do monthly body inspections and its good to have someone else to help with your head and areas that are hard to see.
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RacerX · Regular Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 14

Thanks... I'll definately keep everyone informed on my progress.

I also read about the face being a bad place due to thin skin... but when it comes to any type of scar issue - it's not a big deal for me. I have so many scars it's not even funny... between a car accident, a skiing accident, a hip replacement, and I have bi-lateral club feet... I'm used to scars. (ha! and I'm only 36 lol)

RacerX · Regular Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 14

Quote:

> They like to catch them when they are the size of a pencil eraser or >smaller.

Good to know... now I'll definitely keep my eyes open for anything else that pops up.

I have a lot of moles... but this is the first one that has gotten bigger or changed in any way.

Quote:

>You need to find out the clark level which is the depth of the cancer, and >if its ulcerated. Ulcerated means it has a scab and those usually won't >heal.

It's not ulcerated - at least on the surface. I have a scab now, but that's from the section they removed for the biopsy.

Quote:

>They can't tell when it changes, but your correct that alot of moles >change over time.

>....take pictures of your body with a ruler to keep track of any spot that >concerns you or the doctor.

Yeah, I'll have to do that.. or rather have someone do it for me.

I hope it's stage 0/1.... but if not, I'll just have to deal with it. Between what happened with my sister, and what my friend is dealing with, I can't say I've never considered the possibility of having some type of terrible illness... Just seems more and more it's all just part of life. Sad

ETA: Sorry about the quote thing... doesn't seem to be working.

janie · Regular Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 11 Location: UK

Hi I am really to hear of your diagnosis, I really hope that your staging
is 0/1 and that you don't need any further treatment, fingers and everything crossed for you.
I am about to have my 2nd primary malignant melanoma removed, wide local excision, followed by sentinal lymph node removal.
I have many moles and mine deffo started within existing moles, because I am now high risk, I have ben offered by my dermatologist to have all
my remaining moles to be checked by a dermatoscope, to rule out an potential nasties! Is this something you could enquire about???
I wish you well with your future treatment ,should you require any,
This forum is fantastic for info and support, keep us posted.
Regards
Janie

RacerX · Regular Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 14

Ok... so I call the surgern to have this removed.. I go in on the 12th.

I asked them a couple questions about the level and whatnot.. she didn't specifcally say, but as we're talking she was saying that it's at 1.2mm and they probably wouldn't remove the SNL, etc. blah blah blah. So I'm thinking - great...

I called my family doc who did the biopsy to have the report faxed over to me.. (Surgery place said info was in the report) and the report says plain as day Clark level is IV or greater... Breslow Depth is greater then 1.2mm... Shocked

I'm like what?!?!? So when I was on the phone she was making it out that it was in the early stage... and while I don't know everything stage 4 is not early.

ETA: It's not STAGE 4.. rather Clark Level 4... which I don't know how much better that is.........

Ugh..

janie · Regular Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 11 Location: UK

Hi Racerx
I know how confusing all of this is, from my experience, the Breslow score
is the one that is important.
My first melanoma was 1.9mm and my 2nd primary is 1.1mm I had wide local excision plus sentinal lymph node biopsy done folowed by groin dissection.
I am about to have exactly the same treatment again plus or minus dissection depending on SNB.
My surgeon says that any melanoma over 1mm is treated in this way.
Anything over 1mm even though its at the thinner end of the scale is known as an intermediate melanoma, and
is at a higher risk of spreading, thats why the SNB is done.
Obviously I am no expert, and am only going on my own experience, but as a patient I would now always expect a sentinal node biopsy for peace of mind.
If your melanoma is 1.2mm this is something you should deffo be having.
Hope this helps
Good luck.

RacerX · Regular Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 14

I had asked about the SLN, and she said they probably would not suggest doing that at this stage.

So I dunno... I'll find out more on Monday I guess. They have a lab onsite and do all the testing right then, so when I leave I'll know what's what.

RacerX · Regular Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 14

I had the mole removed today. They basically took out a circle the size of a quarter and went all the way down to the fat layer. So all my margins are clear.

They are also going to send another sample to the lab because the report from my biopsy they felt wasn't clear... It said it was 1.2mm or greater deep.... which isn't super clear. So I should have those results back in a week.

But she said she feels it remained local... so we'll see.

I got 5 or 6 stitches underneath and a pretty long stitch on the surface of the skin. She said it has about 20 holes... which I guess would be like having 20 stitches if they just went from left to right... and it looks like it will heal pretty nicely.

As for the SLN biopsy.. she said the problem with doing that is yes... it could show if any cancer cells have broken off from the main site.. but it could also be clear and in another node... and she said you can't just remove all the nodes.

She has mentioned the Interferon treatment, which I highly doubt I would even do... she didn't say I should do it, but she said if the report comes back from today and shows that it was much deeper then 1.2mm it could be something I might want to consider.

So overall, everything went well. Still gotta wait a week for the report, but she was pretty happy with the results.

tonester · Experienced user Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 67

Best of luck man!!

I had the SLNB in my groin, it even came back negative. However, I was still back in the hospital having a lymph node dissection of the groin less than 3 months later.

That Interferon treatment is something else. The first month was the worst. That's the 5 days a week heavy dose time. I kept pretty much "sedated" with oxycodone for a month.

Would have my treatments, and then had 2 hours to get home and get as comfortable as possible before it beat me about the head and shoulders.
Absolutely the worst headaches I've ever had.

Worst part is, it didn't work for me. Even knowing this, it was worth a shot.

Hang in there.
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RacerX · Regular Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 14

Got a call from the doctor's office today... they said the 2nd biopsy shows the breslow level was only .7mm, which the first biopsy said it was greater then 1.2mm.

Now, I haven't read the report for myself... Hopefully I'll get a copy of it tomorrow or Wed.

I don't understand why the first report would say it was deeper then the 2nd.... which will be one question I have for the doc when I have my followup visit.

But if it really was only .7mm, that's not as bad as I had thought it would be.

brainman

Racer, that is confusing. Unfortunately, I do not know why the two reports are different. Yes, it is good news if the 0.7 is confirmed. Keep us informed.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

RacerX · Regular Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 14

I picked up the 2nd report today and spoke with one of the staff at the office. (I think she was a nurse - not really sure)

The first biopsy was a bunch.. directly in the center. That report said "greater then 1.2mm".

This biopsy was taken from the surrounding area and the report says .7 thickness... because the center is no longer there.

She said that means that the first biopsy went all the way thru... so it was only 1.2mm. She said if the 2nd biopsy had come back with it showing deeper then the first, then that wouldn't have been good. But since it wasn't as deep as the first, it's a good thing.

So I'm assuming that it just confirms that the first biopsy was complete, so it wasn't greater then 1.2mm... but rather 1.2mm since they had a complete section of the mole.

That's the lastest... follow up visit will be next within a couple weeks.

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