Aaaah SHIT! I just got my biopsy results. It's melanoma.

[Pachamama]

143. Not entirely accurate assessmenton the treatment...

If the indications are that it has spread to the lymphnodes (depending on the margins excised) they may do a sentinel lymph node biopsy. As you get into the more advanced stages of Melanoma (i'm a Stage 2 survivor) then depending on their concern that it may have spread into lymph nodes they remove all lymph nodes near the melanoma are of origin and then begin immunotherapy with the use of interferon and possibly radiation. Later more advanced stages (4 & 5) will use actual chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy (called Biochemotherapy).

I know you meant well Warpy, but I think its important to give accurate information. Chemotherapy is not used until the very advanced stages and Melanoma is different from other cancers in that its response is to immunotherapy, thus its primary use. I had Stage 2, treated by some of top doctors at UCSF's Melanoma clinic. There was surgical removal of the melanoma with wide margins, sentinel lymph node biopsy (avoided lymph node dissection - full removal) and then had adjuvant therapy (immunotherapy) with interferon.

I asked Bravo in an earlier reply where its located....that is important....in my case it was on my lower leg....far from lymphnodes. 75% of all Melanoma occurs on womens limbs, particularly lower legs below knee. Men tend to have it on their head and torso. Its interestingly where the sexes are not equal....thus a stage 1 on the torso can actually be worse than stage 3 on lower leg.

The good news is that the care and treatment and developments regarding melanoma have become very advanced and the survivalbility better than ever. I have a friend who has mucousal melanoma in his nasal passage....49 yrs old....he's just completed radiation and immunotherapy and he's doing well all things considered...but mucousal is the melanoma of melanomas....and usually not caught till very advanced...