melanoma treatment

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Tom from Me
Tom from Me Member Posts: 3
in Skin Cancer #1

I have stage II melanoma.  I have a surgery scheduled to enlarge the margins and biopsy the lymph nodes.  My surgeon can remove anything he finds cancerous.  Should i be seeing a dermatologist?  Or an oncologist?

 

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  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    #2
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    I vote for oncologist

    I vote for an oncologist for the cancer surgery and treatment.  You will also keep regular visits with a dermatoligist.  Are you going to a Comprehensive Cancer Center?

  • Tom from Me
    Tom from Me Member Posts: 3
    #3
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    KTeacher said:

    I vote for oncologist

    I vote for an oncologist for the cancer surgery and treatment.  You will also keep regular visits with a dermatoligist.  Are you going to a Comprehensive Cancer Center?

    no, my PCP reffered me to a

    no, my PCP reffered me to a surgeon who specializes in breast cancers and melanomas.  how do i locate a comprehensive cancer care center?

  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    #4
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    Tom from Me said:

    no, my PCP reffered me to a

    no, my PCP reffered me to a surgeon who specializes in breast cancers and melanomas.  how do i locate a comprehensive cancer care center?

    Where do you live

    I live in California.  I go to Stanford for my surgeries and follow up.  UCSF, UCLA, MD Anderson in Texas Would be CCC's.

  • michelle32
    michelle32 Member Posts: 2
    #5
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    KTeacher said:

    Where do you live

    I live in California.  I go to Stanford for my surgeries and follow up.  UCSF, UCLA, MD Anderson in Texas Would be CCC's.

    neighbors

    Hi KTeacher. I just saw your post and thought I would say hi. I live in Mountain View and am a stage IV survivor. Where are you from? Are you currently doing treatments?

  • Lizard51
    Lizard51 Member Posts: 2
    #6
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    Stage II nodular melanoma

    I underwent surgery for Stage II nodular melanoma on the back of my neck.  Wide excision was done and luckily 4 lymph nodes which were all in line of the tumor also removed.  Lymph nodes negative for cancer:)  Mole suddenly appeared as a pinhead and clear and quickly grew to the size of pencil eraser and turned black.  I only knew I had this mole on the back of my neck because it itched and I thought I had a mosquito bite.  Thank goodness for the itching or it would have turned to stage III or IV very quickly.  I wasn't in the habit of paying attention to my moles.  I went to a dermatologist who then referred me to an Oncologist.  I have been seeing both now for the last 4 years.  Now going in for MOHs for carcinoma on my nose.  Good luck to you!

  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    #7
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    michelle32 said:

    neighbors

    Hi KTeacher. I just saw your post and thought I would say hi. I live in Mountain View and am a stage IV survivor. Where are you from? Are you currently doing treatments?

    Hi!

    I don't always check this site, I am on Head and Neck regularly.  I live in Merced.n. When I had my first biopsy in 2010, I was immediately referred to Stanford, and I am very glad.  I have squamous cell carcinoma and unfortunately I have had recurrences each year.  My surgeries and follow ups are at Stanford and my treatments are in Merced.  My sister lived in Foster City and now Los Gatos, I stay with her when I have appointments and PET scans.

  • Elizabeth Wilson
    Elizabeth Wilson Member Posts: 1
    #8
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    See both

    It's important to have a network of doctors as they are all specialzed  An oncologist will order tests (labs and scans) although I am not sure of the protocol for stage II. Be well!

  • ChD
    ChD Member Posts: 9
    #9
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    Melanoma treatment centers

    Here is a list of melanoma comprehensive treatment centers.  If the link doessn't work, the list is available on the MIF (Melanoma International Foundation) web site.

    http://melanomainternational.org/web-resources/cancer-centers/

  • Aspen1234
    Aspen1234 Member Posts: 6
    #10
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    Your treatment plan seems

    Your treatment plan seems right to me. Stage II melanoma may have spread to lymph nodes so have your surgeon excise with wide margins and check and remove lymph nodes. Then follow up with the dermatologist every 6 months for skin checks. Best of luck to you!

     

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