Could i have been misdiagnosed?

[nobellybutton]

Hello, here is my story.

At the begining of December i had 2 moles removed from my bellybutton, one that had been there for at least 2 years and another that had appeared about 8 months earlier. I wasnt really concerned about either of them but the one that had appeared about 8 months earlier seemed to be getting bigger and as it was in a strange place i decided to get it checked out.

My doc took the precautionary step of doing a puncture biopsy on both moles although she said that neither of them looked suspicious and that she didnt expect any problems. However after waiting 3 weeks i received a call asking me to come to see the doc immediately as the results of the biopsy were concerning. Upon arriving at the docs i was informed that the mole that had been in my bellybutton for over 2 years was a malignant melanoma. I was really shocked as i had had it for such a long time and there was nothing about it that was worrysome (it was small, almost flat and had no ulceration, itching etc and neither did the other one) - as i said, it was the other mole i was concerned about.

Anyway the doc couldnt tell me much about it but immediately refered me for a chest xray and an abdominal ultrsound - 2 days before Christmas. I was really scared but luckly both exams came back clear. I was then refered to a dermatologist and got an appointment in Jan. I was told by the dermatologist that my melanoma was stage 1a, level 2 and that i would need a wide excision which would mean having my bellybutton removed. I was referred to a plastic surgeon (because of where the mole was) and a few weeks later i had my bellybutton removed.

This is where my concern lies, following the excision i was told that the biopsy was clear and that there was no sign of the original tumor, meaning that the puncture biopsy performed by the doc had removed all the melanoma. Naturally i was pleased about this but couldnt help but feel that i may not have needed to have such drastic surgery, especially given that i developed an MRSA infection in the incision which meant that the wound took 2 months to heal. I should also add that i was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of the surgery.

Im just wondering if anybody has ever heard of or been wrongly diagnosed with skin cancer or ever had a biopsy come back with no sign of the original tumor? I sould also add that my doc said that they had to get a second opinion on the original puncture biopsy which is why it took 3 weeks to get the results.

Apologys for the long post but as with most skin cancer storys, they are never short or simple. Thanks in advance.

[brainman]

nobellybutton, I am sorry about your health concerns. Sorry, but I can help but laugh at you choice in username .

You do have an unusual story. A T1a cancer is small enough to be removed in the biopsy but often there are at least a few cells left. If two labs said that the biopsy should cancer cells, their is not much of a chance of it being a false positive.

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

[nobellybutton]

Thanks for your reply Jim, i thought my user name would add a touch of lighthearted humor

Rather than both opinions on the puncture biopsy coming pack positive i was thinking more along the lines that the first pathologist thought the results were inconclusive so had to get a second opinion in which case there must have been some doubt? I know that i will never know for sure because even if i raise it with my Dermatologist he will most likely deny the possibility. I just wonder how common it is to be misdiagnosed. Do you think that it is too late to get a second opinion on the biopsy (would they still have the sample)?

On the plus side i have been told that apart from 6 monthly checkups i dont need any further treatment and that i shouldnt expect any further complications, now it is just a case of getting to grips with ways to deal with my paranoia about being out in the sunshine without becoming a recluse

[Jean222]

If they're wanting to check you every six months, that would suggest to me that it was indeed, cancer.

My daughter had melanoma and was checked every 6months for a number of years. Then she was to get checked annually.

I think you have the right to copies of the pathology reports, it's part of your medical history.

Do not worry about the doctors' reaction to your request (he can't just blow you off) just politely ask for copies of both path reports.

Best of luck.


Jean

[brainman]

Anna, that is a possibility. There are several reasons why a doctor would initiate obtaining a second opinion.

1. Just simply to have the first diagnosis confirmed
2. Doubt in the original result.
3. Further studies to help distinguish between one type and another

Where you told what kind of skin cancer it was?

[nobellybutton]

Hi Jim,

All i know is that it was a malignant melanoma, are there different types of melanoma?

Anna

[brainman]

Anna, I have never heard of different types of malignant melanomas. But then I do not know that much about melanomas.