Aa
Possible Melanoma DX this morning....MD Anderson Cancer Center
Hi All,
Just returned from an appointment at the MD Anderson reaserch and cancer hospital in Houston.
Like I expected to hear, the mole in question is possibly a Melanoma skin cancer....so I'm really not in that much shock right now since I've always been told to be at risk for a Melanoma and have been under close suppervission with the Dermo, for many years ( my father died at age 46 with Melanoma ). However I also do routine frequent self exams after a shower and HAD no problem remembering to do this til TX began and all the sudden my life basically revolved around Tx, SX's etc........
I'm now week 16/48. I knoow for a FACT that I examined myself just prior to Tx and the atypical mole now in question looked unchanged as it did for many years, till last week when I was extremely concerned about the sudden change.....
BTW, this atypical mole has never seen the sunlight, it's located on an area that's ALWAYS been covered by swimsuits or clothing, ( yeah, never visited any topless beaches )....
One of my questions with the Specialist was, " Do Melanomas develope from sunburn/ sunlight ", she said no, it's uaually from genetics...they can develope in places that are not typically exposed ( the other skin cancers do develope from years of exposure to the sun and develope more slowly and once removed ,your good to go.....
My feelings are that the tx has something to do with this fast mutation of skin cells ( if the atypical mole is malignant )..
No one here is safe from malignaces with this TX. I can explain if someone is questioning, INTERFERON ?
Maggie
Just returned from an appointment at the MD Anderson reaserch and cancer hospital in Houston.
Like I expected to hear, the mole in question is possibly a Melanoma skin cancer....so I'm really not in that much shock right now since I've always been told to be at risk for a Melanoma and have been under close suppervission with the Dermo, for many years ( my father died at age 46 with Melanoma ). However I also do routine frequent self exams after a shower and HAD no problem remembering to do this til TX began and all the sudden my life basically revolved around Tx, SX's etc........
I'm now week 16/48. I knoow for a FACT that I examined myself just prior to Tx and the atypical mole now in question looked unchanged as it did for many years, till last week when I was extremely concerned about the sudden change.....
BTW, this atypical mole has never seen the sunlight, it's located on an area that's ALWAYS been covered by swimsuits or clothing, ( yeah, never visited any topless beaches )....
One of my questions with the Specialist was, " Do Melanomas develope from sunburn/ sunlight ", she said no, it's uaually from genetics...they can develope in places that are not typically exposed ( the other skin cancers do develope from years of exposure to the sun and develope more slowly and once removed ,your good to go.....
My feelings are that the tx has something to do with this fast mutation of skin cells ( if the atypical mole is malignant )..
No one here is safe from malignaces with this TX. I can explain if someone is questioning, INTERFERON ?
Maggie
two posts in one day about skin cancers! wow!
It is terrible that this has been added to your plate, which seems to be full at the moment. I wish you the best.
If the tx can trigger skin cancers to speed up, would it be the riba? since as I indicated earlier, interferon is a treatment for melanoma
http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/learn/onmelint.htm
of course, sometimes the medication used to treat a condition is said to caused the aggravation of the condition itself as a possible adverse event (just look at albuterol for asthma) so who knows? it would be odd that the med used for tx, causes the illness itself?
what are the options given to you, mag? would you need surgery asap?
It is terrible that this has been added to your plate, which seems to be full at the moment. I wish you the best.
If the tx can trigger skin cancers to speed up, would it be the riba? since as I indicated earlier, interferon is a treatment for melanoma
http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/learn/onmelint.htm
of course, sometimes the medication used to treat a condition is said to caused the aggravation of the condition itself as a possible adverse event (just look at albuterol for asthma) so who knows? it would be odd that the med used for tx, causes the illness itself?
what are the options given to you, mag? would you need surgery asap?
I had a dermo tell me 7 months ago he was pretty sure a mole that was ooking weird and changing I had was cancerous, removed it right then and it came back benign. Scared me, but he was wrong.
Both of these situations have yet to be established as cancers, the pathologist has to look at it first. Hopefully they are not.
I know it is unsettling to have this happen and have the doc suspect cancer, but before we go making a link to tx with these situations lets make sure they are actually cancers first because they are very common to the average population particuarly in middle age.
Both of these situations have yet to be established as cancers, the pathologist has to look at it first. Hopefully they are not.
I know it is unsettling to have this happen and have the doc suspect cancer, but before we go making a link to tx with these situations lets make sure they are actually cancers first because they are very common to the average population particuarly in middle age.
I'm the other skin cancer poster today. I won't know for sure what kind mine is until later this week. I'm also close to MD Anderson...
I wish you the best. This is scary business. Please keep us up to date on what happens.
I wish you the best. This is scary business. Please keep us up to date on what happens.
Yes, 'Adjuvent " Interferon is used with Melanoma and other cancers only to TREAT and Not prevent.. It's used post surgery if there's eveidence of it spreading to lymph nodes.
With Adjuvent Interferon treatment, it only increases chances for survival 10-15%, post surgery. Hate to scare anyone about Melanoma, but it's one of the worst to battle even with the best treatment, today. Most of us here I'm sure are not at risk , however it's a great idea ( I think ) to do self exams and watch for changes, before,during and after tx.. I didn't mean to scare or suggest to anyone that our tx causes malignances, but in my case it's sort of suspicious to me....
I'm scheduled for a sugical proceedure of the area in question, next Monday. Hope my labs are okay, to do the surgery, ( at risk for infection...)
Maggie
With Adjuvent Interferon treatment, it only increases chances for survival 10-15%, post surgery. Hate to scare anyone about Melanoma, but it's one of the worst to battle even with the best treatment, today. Most of us here I'm sure are not at risk , however it's a great idea ( I think ) to do self exams and watch for changes, before,during and after tx.. I didn't mean to scare or suggest to anyone that our tx causes malignances, but in my case it's sort of suspicious to me....
I'm scheduled for a sugical proceedure of the area in question, next Monday. Hope my labs are okay, to do the surgery, ( at risk for infection...)
Maggie
good luck on that test, I hope it is negative for malignancy.
I always find it so hard to map my skin, with all the moles, birthmarks and freckles, and now the freaking age spots, it is like the breast exams for me, I can't tell what I am looking or feeling for.
good suggestion, mag. Are there any type of scans that can detect malignancies, how about those canines been trained to detect melanoma?
I do hope you come out ok. and of course, you too algernon
I always find it so hard to map my skin, with all the moles, birthmarks and freckles, and now the freaking age spots, it is like the breast exams for me, I can't tell what I am looking or feeling for.
good suggestion, mag. Are there any type of scans that can detect malignancies, how about those canines been trained to detect melanoma?
I do hope you come out ok. and of course, you too algernon
Hi,
I did notice your thread from earlier, however, I haven't had a chance to read, especially with my pulse rate up high and head pounding, at present.
Did they do a BX or a surgical excission of the entire area ?
My Doc. is Sharon Hymes, who's yours ?
Are you presently on Tx, what week ?
I'll definitely be posting pathology results as soon as I get them .......
Good luck to you as well with your results.
Maggie
I did notice your thread from earlier, however, I haven't had a chance to read, especially with my pulse rate up high and head pounding, at present.
Did they do a BX or a surgical excission of the entire area ?
My Doc. is Sharon Hymes, who's yours ?
Are you presently on Tx, what week ?
I'll definitely be posting pathology results as soon as I get them .......
Good luck to you as well with your results.
Maggie
Best wishes for benign results to both of you. I know the feeling, it is very scary. My dermo basically said to me "this looks like cancer" and excised the area, about as big as a 50 cent piece and pretty deep, it was on my stomach just below my breast. It healed up fine and it was benign, hope that happens to you guys too.
I agree with cuteus, it is really hard to keep track of them yourself, good thing you both are going to the doctor and having them watched, that is the key if it does turn up positive, to catch it early.
Please let us know when you get the results.
I agree with cuteus, it is really hard to keep track of them yourself, good thing you both are going to the doctor and having them watched, that is the key if it does turn up positive, to catch it early.
Please let us know when you get the results.
The basics to looking at moles are, the size. asymmetry, boarder,and color changes..
If the size of any mole is greatter than 5mm, it shouldd be watched for color changes, irregular boarder, and asymetry ( one half unlike the other half )... These are just the basics, however, this is what "lay people " should be looking for in a a self exam, If unsure, definitely get a good Derma. to look into it further. Only a Bx will show exactly what they find to be the DX. Don't beleive there are any other diagnostic proceedures for melanoma.
My Doc. is excising the entire area to get as much tissue as possible, then she begins to talk about how it will scar, I had to stop her and just say ,"No problem about the scar', doesn't matter to me personally......
Maggie
If the size of any mole is greatter than 5mm, it shouldd be watched for color changes, irregular boarder, and asymetry ( one half unlike the other half )... These are just the basics, however, this is what "lay people " should be looking for in a a self exam, If unsure, definitely get a good Derma. to look into it further. Only a Bx will show exactly what they find to be the DX. Don't beleive there are any other diagnostic proceedures for melanoma.
My Doc. is excising the entire area to get as much tissue as possible, then she begins to talk about how it will scar, I had to stop her and just say ,"No problem about the scar', doesn't matter to me personally......
Maggie
This is an excellent website that tells you how to do a self exam.
http://www.skincancer.org/
http://www.skincancer.org/
I finished 24 weeks of TX for 3a just six weeks ago.
So far, I'm still being evaluated in Austin (waiting on shave biopsy results) and will be seen by specialist later this week. He will excise whatever amount is suggested by the biopsy.
I don't have plans for MD And (simply because of the drive) at this point. But I think you are in excellent hands there. I will only go there if the biopsy results are particularly alarming.
I'm wishing the best for you. Algie
So far, I'm still being evaluated in Austin (waiting on shave biopsy results) and will be seen by specialist later this week. He will excise whatever amount is suggested by the biopsy.
I don't have plans for MD And (simply because of the drive) at this point. But I think you are in excellent hands there. I will only go there if the biopsy results are particularly alarming.
I'm wishing the best for you. Algie
A BIG thank you to everyone here that's given their concerns, questions, info. and genuine support !
Yall, are the BEST, I really mean that !
Anyway, the good news was that my VL was UNDETECTABLE at 12wks !!! Used the Heptimax at Quest, down to 10ul/ml....
Hopefully mine will be benign as some of the others here who already went through "The Scare".....
My Best To All,
Maggie
Yall, are the BEST, I really mean that !
Anyway, the good news was that my VL was UNDETECTABLE at 12wks !!! Used the Heptimax at Quest, down to 10ul/ml....
Hopefully mine will be benign as some of the others here who already went through "The Scare".....
My Best To All,
Maggie
Just wanted to tell you both I'm thinking of you. Please keep us updated. Hoping you both have good results!
I would try these guys in a heart beat, when there is more proof
http://cancer.about.com/od/causes/a/dogscancer.htm
http://cancer.about.com/od/causes/a/dogscancer.htm
Yeah, I was also told that it is based on genetics, and not just sun exposure..I have had many, many marks removed, two basil cell carcinomas, and a few displastic moles.. I am WAAAAY over due right now, as I was told to be seen every 3-4 months.
Wish you bothe the best, as I know how nerve racking it is waiting for results!!
Wish you bothe the best, as I know how nerve racking it is waiting for results!!
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