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Melanoma: genetics and recurrence
Cancer | Last Active: Jun 7, 2017 | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
I am a Stage 4 melanoma survivor...I had it removed the first time from my neck in 1991. It came back in same place in early 1995. I waited to have it removed because my son who was then 14 had been dx'ed with a rare and deadly small cell sarcoma and died when he was 16 in 1998. I finally went and had it removed from my neck again in 2000 and returned a couple months later to have 5 SLN removed 9 early 2001). They were all clear. Jump ahead to 2009...I had been complaining for months and months something was wrong but no one seemed to listen. In June 2009 I was dx'ed Stage 4 Metastatic melanoma and it was in the lymph nodes and pressing against my superior vena cava. they said nothing could be done back then...but despite the prognosis of 6 months I went on to find my own treatments...I have been NED ( no evidence of disease). Superficial spreading is a horse of another color and highly recommend you ask about immunotherapy ...perhaps Opdivo ...those friends of mine who had it are no longer here. Didn't say that to scare you...but to tell you that there are treatments now available to you that they never had. Yervoy is 4 infusions and it has been approved already...Opdivo may not be approved yet as a prevention...would not recommend Interferon or Leukine injections ...they don't do much as a stand alone treatment and IF they did anything they might postpone recurrence for a short time...nothing more
Replies to "I am a Stage 4 melanoma survivor...I had it removed the first time from my neck..."
My pcp (in Red Wing) removed the entire mole in the office. When the path report came back as melanoma, I had surgery to check for clear margins (which there were from the original biopsy). I was then referred to Rochester to see a dermatologist. Never has a chest x-ray been mentioned, or any type of blood work.
dx: Clark level 2
This was the biopsy report back in 2000 Diagnosis: Malignant Melanoma. Clark's Level 3. Tumor Thickness 1.45mm. The Margins of Excision appear uninvolved. Suggest re-incision.
I did have a chest X ray during that time and a CT scan. They seldom use Clark's level anymore as a measurement. http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma/the-stages-of-melanoma/guide-to-staging-melanoma
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@lynnkay1956 - from my research, superficial spreading is the most common kind of melanoma. As far as I am aware, immunotherapy would never be offered for someone who is just stage 1. The only treatment, as far as I know, is wide excision. And then, depending on the depth of the lesion, possible sentinel node biopsy.
That is what I have had done both times. As for follow up, I see a dermatologist at least twice a year (I actually go 4 times, but I think standard of care is every 6 months). My melanoma specialist also does blood work and takes a chest xray when I go to him, which is supposed to be yearly, but the dematologist screening is really all that I have understood to be protocol for early stages. Of course my last lesion was 2008 so I haven't researched again lately, but I can't believe that they would do anything more for Stage 1 patients.