superficial melanoma

[Kathleen]

My hubby had a biopsy last week on a spot on his face. His Dermatologist call today telling us that is superficial melanoma. Anyone know what kind of skin cancer this is?  He has appointment with the surgeon on the 18th. Hubby on pd.

Thank You,
Kat

[goofynina]

Hi Kat,  I googled it and this is the answer it gave me.

Superficial spreading melanoma is a form of skin cancer in its early stages. A melanoma's malignant potential depends on its thickness within the skin.

Generally speaking, melanomas have a tendency to spread to other parts of the body and they need to be excised properly.

A superficial melanoma is less likely to spread. It is thought that melanoma first enlarges sideways before it starts to thicken and involve deeper layers of skin, when it becomes more risky.

So, 'superficial spreading melanoma' by definition is a version of the cancer that is in its sideways growth phase and less dangerous.

However, your specialist will want to look at the tissue close to your birthmark to be absolutely sure that nothing is missed.

When melanoma is detected, it is standard practice to have another wider excision for microscopic analysis.

If your melanoma is confirmed to be purely superficial spreading, then I would be reassured that it has been caught at an early stage; and that is a good thing.

Yours sincerely

The Medical Team

You and Carroll will be in my thoughts and prayers.   

[Kathleen]

Susie you're a doll.. I wonder what excision for microscopic analysis means? Another biopsy perhaps..

[Jill D.]

I think it means that they will give hubby a local anesthetic and cut the spot off (along with appropriate area around it and beneath it). They then will look at it under a microscope to check it out.

I have had several moles removed this way, and this is what they do. I have had other spots frozen off, but the moles are always cut off.

[Kathleen]

Jill, thanks but hubby doesn't have a mole. What came back as melanoma looks more like a age spot. I think his Dermatologist told us  that its same day surgery. We go talk with the surgeon next Wednesday.  Four more days.

[goofynina]

Hang in there Kathleen,  we are here for you, i know that may not help you at this time, but sometimes, its the only thing that gets me through the day,  my support group, my family, here at IHD 

[Jill D.]

I will send good thoughts and prayers your way...hope all goes well on Wednesday and you can get this resolved.

[Sluff]

Hope all goes well.

[livecam]

Any melanoma is serious stuff and needs to be removed quickly.  I have some experience with this, my brother-in-law suffered from it for over four years.

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer and can spread to major organs and the brain if not treated promptly.  If caught in it's early stages it has a 95% cure rate. 

It sounds like your husband has a very small early stage melanoma...not much to worry about.

Good luck with the surgery and most likely this will be the end of it.

[Joe Paul]

Hoping all goes well.

[Amanda From OZ]

Good luck.... hope everything turns out well. 

[Kathleen]

Thanks everyone!!

Catching it early is a good thing, hubby had this spot for a couple of years at least. I was shocked when I heard the news, and real upset reading the cancer boards. I think I know enough now to ask the right questions. If there is any good that comes out of this (besides good news for hubby) would be that if posters ( or anyone) notice any changes to moles or spots they may have, get it checked out.

livecam hows your brother-in-law doing?

[Kathleen]

Great news or the best you could hope for dealing with melanoma, all the doctors are in agreement that this was caught very early. Hubby goes in this Friday for a LWE which means they are gonna cut out the spot and alittle more to make sure the margins are clear. Then send it for a biopsy. Wow what a day..

[Danally]

My father inlaw had a small spot removed last year. It was melanoma and he is 100% cancer free.

[livecam]

livecam hows your brother-in-law doing?

He's dead Kathleen, it killed him.  He fought it for 4 1/2 years with both conventional and experimental therapies.  He suffered a good bit during treatment and knew it was going to take him. Fortunately he lived his life to the fullest with lots of home improvements, golf, skiiing, family time, and a trip to Europe all in that last year.  Melanoma is nothing to fool with. 

[Kathleen]

livecam hows your brother-in-law doing?

He's dead Kathleen, it killed him.  He fought it for 4 1/2 years with both conventional and experimental therapies.  He suffered a good bit during treatment and knew it was going to take him. Fortunately he lived his life to the fullest with lots of home improvements, golf, skiiing, family time, and a trip to Europe all in that last year.  Melanoma is nothing to fool with. 

livecam

I'm so sorry to hear this, you're right melanoma is nothing to fool around with. I've read so much about melanoma it sacred the daylights out of me. They call it the beast on the net, For a very good reason.

Today hubby had the damn thing removed,  he now has a incision from his cheekbone to below his bottom lip. Omygosh the melanoma was a very small spot on his face. Not in a million years would I have thought that, they would need to remove that much from his face. Hubby one of the lucky ones that his was caught early.

[goofynina]

Livecam, i am sorry to hear of the loss of your brother-in-law but i am happy to hear he Lived all he could before he left, that is what i am trying to do myself 

Kathleen, i am so glad that is all over with and thank you Jesus for catching it early and getting it out and over with, will he have to do any sessions of radiation?   Now you get on with your plans girlfriend, remember i am behind you all the way

[Kathleen]

Nope Susie he won't have to do radiation, the surgeon said that it looked to him that the melanoma was just on the top layer. They will confirm this with the pathology report.

[goofynina]

Nope Susie he won't have to do radiation, the surgeon said that it looked to him that the melanoma was just on the top layer. They will confirm this with the pathology report.

Awesome,  So glad to hear it, keep us posted on what that report says, please    It may be helpful to others to know that there is hope if they are suffering from the same thing.  So happy, thanks for sharing that with us