Some people can have more than one primary cancer. My personal experience is that my primary (melanoma) then spread to my lymph nodes so they were the secondaries. If it then continued to an organ, bones or brain they would be secondaries. However, I've had 7 further moles removed since that time. Fortunately all were benign but if one had been malignant it would be a new primary. Primaries aren't linked to each other, they are a 'stand alone' new malignancy. I hope this helps.

Okay AngieT, perhaps a little,are you medically trained? Melanoma a skin cancer anyway? Rushing to get a dictionary. Thanks

Okay AngieT, perhaps a little,are you medically trained? Melanoma a skin cancer anyway? Rushing to get a dictionary. Thanks

Pips 

glad you posted this as I had some confusion too 

Lovely of angie to explain this is so much detail .

No Pipestril, I'm not medically trained but answered your question for the moment as the nurses won't be back until tomorrow. I have, however, been a melanoma patient for many years so picked up a lot of knowledge along the way. Yes, melanoma is the most serious of the skin cancers as it is invasive and kills approximately 15% of patients each year.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Thanks laraj, it can be very confusing and clinicians assume patients understand all the terminology which isn't always the case xx

Did wonder,AngieT, I actually trained  in nursing many years ago. Things have changed for the best since then. That's why I looked for my nurse dictionary. Thanks for the detail. Hope the forum nurse reply soon.pip