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Melanoma Results

N-Tessy
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Was diagnosed with melanoma last year. Lymph node biopsy was positive so had all LN taken out from under both arms. 
Had results today: 1/19 positive under one arm. 2/23 positive under other arm. 
I was hoping to feel more reassured with a small number being positive. But I am not. 
Plan not changed and still offered immunotherapy but my question is: does it make a difference on how many were positive ? 

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    Hello N-Tessy, 

    Best of luck for your immunotherapy treatment. You can read more about immunotherapy for melanoma on this page. I am not sure myself whether it makes a difference how many were positive, but if you would like to get in touch with our cancer nurses on this free number 0808 800 4040, I am sure they will be able to guide you and tell you more about this. Their helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. 

      is one of our wonderful members with knowledge and personal experience of melanoma and may be able to enlighten you further. It does help to talk to others who have had a melanoma diagnosis and I hope that you will hear from others shortly who have been in a similar situation.

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

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    Thanks Lucy for your mention.

    Hi N-Tessy,

    I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis but try not to fixate too much on how many nodes were positive. I know several patients who have had 3 or more positive nodes removed and it's had no detrimental effect on the success of treatment or the higher chance of progression. Yet I know some who only had one positive node and it's then progressed. I myself had 2 positive nodes from 24 removed in my groin and pelvis (1 node from each area). I had no drug treatment as it wasn't available when I was diagnosed 14 years ago yet I'm still here NED (No evidence of Disease). Melanoma is the most unpredictable of cancers as it doesn't follow the usual rules and no two patients experience the same pathway!

    I will send you a friend request and, should you accept it, we can chat by private message.

    Good luck with your treatment plan,

    Angie, Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009

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