Melanoma

Biopsy for a Second Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My husband had surgery for melanoma in October 2006 on his back. It was extensive surgery but no melanoma [was seen] in lymph nodes. He had another spot close to where the original melanoma was that was biopsied and...
Choosing Therapy after Surgical Removal of Melanoma (Adjuvant Therapy) Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have been diagnosed with melanoma, stage IIIA. After a 4.5 mm lesion was removed, I had a sentinel node biopsy which came back "barely" positive. Two weeks later, I had a complete lymph node dissection of...
Follow-Up Care for Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I am a 29-year-old female with melanoma, stage T2N0M0. I am getting every-3-month follow-up visits/exams with every-6-month chest x-rays & blood work. Is there any opinion on getting any routine brain scans, since...
GM-CSF for Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I was diagnosed with melanoma on my left foot, Stage Ib, in 2005. In 2009, I was found to have a recurrence in the left thigh. This was removed and there appears to be no organ involvement. I do not want to take...
Immune System after Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I recently had a superficial spreading melanoma removed that was quite small, approx half a millimeter in depth. (The procedure went well with) no problems and a fairly good prognosis. Since then, my immune...
Interferon Treatment for Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have had a block dissection of the lymph nodes, and the sentinel node was found to contain melanoma cells. I am shortly going on a treatment course of interferon. Is there anything else I can do to improve my...
Isolated Limb Perfusion Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," What is isolated limb perfusion? Can you tell me its indications, technique, and adverse effects? Suzanne M. McGettigan, MSN, CRNP, AOCN, Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Oncology Advanced...
Leptomeningeal Cancer from Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," What are the treatment options for someone diagnosed with leptomeningeal cancer from melanoma? Suzanne M. McGettigan, MSN, CRNP, AOCN, Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Oncology Advanced...
Leptomeningeal Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," What is leptomeningeal melanoma? What medication can help? Keith T. Flaherty, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), responds:Leptomeningeal melanoma refers to the spread of melanoma cells to the...
Link between Melanoma & Breast Cancer Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on my left wrist in June of 2005. Monday I had an OB-GYN appointment and a "lump" was found in my left breast. There is no history of breast cancer or melanoma in my family;...
Lower Extremity Lymphedema & Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," What is the likelihood of developing lymphedema following a dissection of the external lymph nodes of the groin area for treatment of Stage III melanoma? Is lower extremity lymphedema more common or worse than arm...
Melanoma Biopsy Report Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I recently had a punch biopsy done on my left forearm. Could you please help me understand the pathology report? DIAGNOSIS: Atypical intraepidermal melanocytic proliferation, trailing to the lateral side margin....
Melanoma Biopsy Results and Sentinel Node Biopsy Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I recently went to my family practitioner about an odd-looking mole. He said he didn't think it was anything to be concerned about and shaved it off, but then the pathology report identified it as melanoma,...
Melanoma Removal and Work-up Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I recently had a malignant melanoma removed. Is it important to do a wide excision and why? Do I need a sentinel node removal? Can anything else show cancerous cells in my body? Like a PET scan or MRI or CAT scan?...
Mole Mapping Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have had melanoma twice in the past 15 years. I have hundreds of moles and have been diagnosed with dysplastic nevi. I live in a state with poor medical resources for my situation. I have gone without medical...
Mucosal Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My friend had a mole removed 2 years ago and was told it was one step away from melanoma. She had 4 surgeries until clear margins were obtained. She was told yesterday that she had melanoma of the colon -had several...
Mucosal Melanoma and Stereotactic Radiosurgery Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My question is in regards to a periurethral melanoma. Do you know of any surgeries done for this problem using CyberKnife®?Suzanne M. McGettigan, MSN, CRNP, AOCN, Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and a...
Ocular Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Can you please give me some information on melanoma of the eye?Suzanne M. McGettigan, MSN, CRNP, AOCN, Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Oncology Advanced Practice Nurse, responds:Ocular (eye)...
Radiation for Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Can a person with Xeroderma Pigmentosa (XP) use radiation therapy to treat melanoma?Carolyn Vachani RN, MSN, AOCN, OncoLink's Medical Correspondent, responds:There are a few issues here. For starters, melanoma is not...
Recovery from sun damage Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I was at the Penn melanoma conference and Dr. Elenitsas showed two slides of the dermis. One was damaged by the sun, and the other one did not have sun damage. My question is: does the dermis have the ability to...
Sentinel Node Biopsy During Pregnancy Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have recently been diagnosed with melanoma: 0.77 mm thick with Clark 's level IV. I am also 7 weeks pregnant. I am scheduled for a wide excision with local anesthetic for this Friday. Is there a time in pregnancy...
Sentinel Node Biopsy Instructions Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I had a sentinel node biopsy done in my right groin 8 days ago. At first, the nurse said I should walk, but my surgeon said 2 days ago to minimize walking. Since then, I have minimized walking, but it seems that the...
Types of Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Are there different types of melanoma? Suzanne M. McGettigan, MSN, CRNP, AOCN, Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Oncology Advanced Practice Nurse, responds:There are four general types of...

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