Hi,

Yes, I have experience of melanoma in my lymph nodes.

My primary was a mole on my shin in 1996. After removal and 5 years of check ups I was discharged. Unfortunately I found a lump in my groin in 2009 & a fine needle biopsy confirmed that the primary had spread. In those days the only treatment was a full node clearance after a pre-op scan. My surgeon (on a hunch) decided to also remove the nodes in my pelvis. A micro amount of melanoma was found in a pelvic node as well as the macro amount in the groin node.

These days patients also get adjuvant drug treatment which is showing great success, so more Stage 3 patients are clear of melanoma than they were years ago.

I'm still here, fit & healthy,15 years later. Although your dad's melanoma is from an unknown primary, it won't affect the treatment he will receive. Quite often the primary has regressed (due to the immune system attacking it) but it's usually after a cell will have already broken away and travelled through the lymphatic system & lodged in the lymph node. 

I've sent you a friend request - if you accept it we can chat some more by private message. Hopefully your dad's scan results won't take much longer & they will put together a treatment plan as quickly as possible.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)