melanoma?

[dberg]

I had a very benign looking thing removed on my leg earlier this year, by my choice, and it ended up being melanoma. My dermatologist was not impressed, but I followed the "ABCD" and insisted it be removed. Thank goodness it was just in situ. I had Mohs surgery, which left a big honking scar on my leg, but after reconstruction, it's nothing!

[Gerri]

Hi Les,

In 1993 I was diagnosed with melanoma on my arm - Clark's level III and Breslow thickness 1.7 mm. I had additional surgery with a 2 cm clearance from the original biopsy excision just to make sure the margins were clear. My surgeon did not feel it was necessary to do a biopsy of my nodes. I am happy to report that I have had no further problems. I have however had all three types of skin cancers removed through the years so I try to keep an eye out for any changes in my skin or numerous moles.

A good friend of mine (also a bc survivor) had a melanoma removed from her face several years prior to her bc dx. She had a plastic surgeon do the surgery (it was quite extensive) and he did a wonderful job. You would never know she had surgery done on her face. She has not had any additional problems related to the melanoma. I have always wondered if there was a connection between bc and melanoma. I tested negative for BRCA 1 & 2.

Good luck with all of this. I know it is pretty scary but I hope I have helped in some small way.

All my best,

[Les]

Thank you all I will keep you posted I am so grateful for this website. I found the report tonight from 2005 when I had this same spot biopsied and it came back as nothing I wish that it had been removed then and I wouldn't be here today.The Dr that removed the lesion is a plastic surgeon and very well respected I just don't know anything about the ENT he wants to have help him and how often they do this type of surgery . so many questions Leslie

[weezie1053]

Gerri,

Last year, I had the BRACA gene tests, and my tests were negative. The Genetic Counselor, however, diagnosed me as "high risk" for recurrence due to my family history of both melanoma (maternal grandmother) and brother's prostate cancer. My grandmother had both BC and Melanoma; however, they say she died as a result of the Melanoma which was actually diagnosed first. This was, of course many years ago (1972). I lost both my grandmother and my mother at the young age of 19. Thank goodness I was blessed with older sisters who took me under their wings. As a result, I have an annual checkup with the dermatologist at UVA.

Louise