Newly diagnosed with melanoma

ehowie · New User Joined: 11 Apr 2008 Posts: 6

My name is Erin. I am 35 and have 2 kids, 10 and 12. A little over a week ago, I was seen by a dermatology P.A regarding a skin growth on my left shoulder that eventually began to drain and bleed. As soon as he looked at it, the PA said it was a pyogenic granuloma, benign, nothing to worry about. He said they would send it out for pathology as they do all lesions that are removed but there was nothing to worry about.

I got a call on Monday from that office and they told me over the phone that I had a melanoma and that it was deep. They asked me to come in and talk to them the next day.
The next afternoon, I was seen by the PA, who said I had a very serious deep melanoma. He said he was going to send me to MD Anderson Cancer center in Orlando. But basically he told me that this type of thing has a 30% survival rate and that they were going to have to remove tissue from my shoulder down to the muscle. I was shocked of course but I thought "this doesn't sound right". How does he know all this just from the path report. I'm a nurse but by no means do I claim to have any oncology knowledge. But I felt like he was making some assumptions and assertations that were a little out of his league.

I left the office with my poor devastated husband who basically felt like he was told that his wife was gonna be dead by year's end. I was just going over it in my head, wondering how he could know all these things. After doing a lot of research, I really feel like he jumped the gun. Granted I'm not having any unrealistic expectations. I know that it is serious. I got a copy of my path report. It is nodular type, ulcerated, Clark's level IV, Breslow's level 4.4 mm.
After talking to my family doctor, he assured me that without further evaluation, there was no way to tell the severity and prognosis to the extent that this PA said.
Anyway, I am currently waiting to hear back form MD Anderson regarding my referral and am hoping for the best.

Sorry for the long post, but I was just wondering if anyone out there had had a similar experience or similar results. Also anyone out there in the Central Florida area that was treated at MD anderson, I would appreciate any feedback about the referral process.

Thanks for your time,
Erin

brainman · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: Newly diagnosed with melanoma

Hi Erin. I am very sorry about your cancer. I do not know anything about MD Anderson in Orlando although I do know a lot about MD Anderson in Houston. I too agree that your PA jumped the gun. You will need at least a PET scan to find out if it has metastasized. I would make sure to talk to an Oncologist with a lot of experience with skin cancers.

Keep is informed. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
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/

tonester · Experienced user Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 68

Hey Erin

Hang in there!

This forum really works for helping me lower stress levels. Hope it can do the same for you.

Best of Luck,
Tony
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****Kick'n Cancers Arse Since April 2007****

You can check out "My Story" at the link below.
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9083

Jotto · Regular Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 47 Location: Biloxi MS

I know how you feel, after doing research I wondered how he could state I was stage 4. After doing alot of reading, I was under the same assumption, how could he say stage 4 when we hadn't even done the SLNB.

Your doing the right thing going to MD Anderson, I wish I had when all mine started. I was going to use MD Anderson in Florida for chemo, only to find out that chemo wasn't part of the treatment for the stage I had. I would have been in chemo if I had went with the oncologists recommendation. Mine was deep like yours, my spot was on my left arm.

I turned out to be stage 2 after my visit to MD Anderson. I know from now on if anything happens I won't be using local doctors. MD Anderson is one of the best places you could have choosen. I know what the shock of hearing this has on you. I also find that statistics don't really mean alot since there is no breakdown given by age groups and health of the patients. I would aviod statistics, and look for ways to boost the immune system. Always discuss this with your doctor. Mine were of the mindset, it can't hurt.

Keep your head up, positive attitude is everything. You have people here to talk with, as we are in the same position. We all become somewhat of experts when you learn of the cancer you have. There is too much information on the web to educate ourselves with.

MD Anderson in Houston and Orlando are the same. You have to look up the one in Flordia because its not listed on the Houston site. I was going to use the one in Flordia because I could get a cheap flight there from where I live.
_________________
Jim

Keep the faith, we all have too much to live for.

My journey with melanoma: http://www.cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8547

My Blog: http://james.healthblogs.org/

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