Hi Willyla28,

I'm sorry that you are back on the melanoma merry go round again and I know how worried you will be. 

Firstly, where was your primary melanoma - what part of the body & which side? Melanoma tends to spread through the lymphatic system, staying on the same side of the body (from right leg to the right groin or armpit), it rarely crosses to ther other side of the body.

Secondly, it may be that the new mole isn't linked to the lymph node either.

The new mole may turn out to be benign (I'm assuming they are arranging a removal for biopsy) and the node may just be enlarged due to infection, so there are several reasons why it may not be melanoma.

If, however, it is linked to the previous primary or the new mole, don't panic. Since you were first diagnosed there has been a lot of breakthrough with the treatment of melanoma. If the lymph node is linked then that would probably make you Stage 3 - adjuvant drug therapy is now offered for Stage 3 patients & these drugs have been having great results so don't despair. I, myself, had melanoma in a groin & pelvic node & had a full clearance of nodes from those areas. I'm still here, 10 years later, with no evidence of disease so there is hope.

Please let us know how you get on. Good luck,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)

Thankyou for your reply ,,just an update I went for my urgent ultrasound,,,3 enlarged lymph nodes were found ,,and needle aspiration performed there and then one measured 3 cms,,,so now waiting for results and excision biopsy on other mole on the 27th ,,hoping I get results of fnb then too xxx

Sorry to hear this Willyla28. I hope the results are quick and clear.

Angie

Hi Angie,,I'm scared ,,terrified to be honest ,,dreading the results ,,more so cos of the swollen lymph nodes,,,,and the unusual mole ,,,trying to stay positive but it's hard xxx

I fully understand how you must be feeling. It's a lonely place to be but you really aren't alone. Don't despair - if the nodes are positive there is more treatment available than there used to be. Along with surgery there is now Adjuvant Drug Therapy which became available just recently.  Try to distract yourself and try calming pastimes like yoga, meditation etc. The anxiety is sometimes worse than the primary problem. xx

Thankyou i will try to remain positive and if nodes are positive then it reassuring to know new adjuvant therapies are available 

Hi Angie,,still a waiting results but due to see dermatologist  27th for mole removal so am hoping the results will be with them as they ordered the ultrasound as urgent,,will keep you updated xxx

I hope you get them on the 27th, especially as it will help them consider the next step after your mole removal. Good luck xx

Hello i would like  to update ,,,had ultrasound of 3 swollen lymph nodes which haven't gone down ,,results of fine needle aspiration showed no infection or malignancy but an abnormal amount of lymphoid tissue for which i now need a full body ct scan to check the underlying structures,,,,my consultant wanted me to have the mole on my back removed,,which was done yesterday and resulted in me having one stitch inside and two stitches out ,,so awaiting on biopsy results of that ,,,also an mdt meeting is being held about me tomorrow to see what happens next ,,,I'm hoping some answers will be found as since my diagnose in 2011 ,,I end up having abnormal areas growing in my body for which i have ended up with several operations do you think all thus could be connected to what I am going through now?

Hi,

I'm glad to hear no malignancy was found in the nodes but I can't say I know anything about abnormal amounts of lymphatic tissue. This link is a bit 'technical' but it may help you www.histology.leeds.ac.uk/.../index.php  

I doubt that the mole you have just had removed is linked to the node issue or even your primary melanoma. If it comes back as melanoma there is more chance it's another primary rather than it being a spread of the original. You will know more once the scan results come in - hopefully it all comes back clear and it just shows you have more lymphatic tissue than most people.

Angie x