Question:
I was just diagnosed with melanoma. stage 2. what
should I expect?
I'm 36 male. if they get it out by surgery could I live to be 100? any help?
Answer:
There is a lot of good melanoma information, and a link to MEL-L which
is a great mailing list specific to melanoma patients and their care
givers. There is a lot of information to be had on the list, and well
worth subscribing to.
Stage 2? Possibly Clark's level 2? This is an important distinction,
and the two are not interchangeable terms. The pathology report should
also contain a Breslow's measurement.
Please remember, melanoma is NOT just skin cancer. It is a very
aggressive, fast growing, and extremely deadly cancer that is
difficult to treat. It is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. It
tends not to respond well to radiation and standard chemotherapy.
It likes to metastasize to the lungs, liver, spine, brain, and other
organs. If your doc is telling you that it just needs to be cut out,
and it's no big deal, RUN to a good cancer center with a melanoma
specialist on staff. Melanoma kills, plain and simple.
