Melanoma might have spread
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4 posts since
6 Feb 2020
Hi, I had two melanomas removed in Jan this year. I didn’t have the sentinel node biopsy as 9 lymph nodes showed up on the system and it was felt it was too big an operation at the time. I agreed with this. I am very overweight and scared of lymphodema which is in my family. I had a PET scan a couple of weeks ago and my consultant has told me today that there is an area of unusual activity in my left foot, around my achilles tendon. He examined me this morning but there is no lump that he can feel, but he says it’s hard to feel in that area. He has referred me for an urgent ultra sound scan. He said the SUV was 7 .. I don’t know what any of this might mean. Is there anyone else in a similar situation?
Thank you
Holly
963 posts since
18 Jul 2011
Hi Holly,
I’m not a nurse but I’ve been a melanoma patient for many years so I just wanted to reply whilst you are waiting for a nurse to reply.
You don’t say where your melanomas were on your body and what stage you are? It would be very unusual for the melanoma to have spread to your ankle area. Melanoma cells travel through the body via the lymphatic or blood systems and they travel towards the heart. A melanoma on the leg will travel upwards to the main nodes in the groin, a melanoma on the torso usually travels to the armpit nodes but if on the lower torso can sometimes travel to the groin nodes whilst a melanoma on the head/face/neck usually travels to the neck nodes. So unless your melanomas were on your foot/ankle I doubt it would now be in the ankle area as there are no sentinel or main nodes in that area but it certainly needs further investigation.
SUV means standardized uptake value. Cancer cells show a high level of chemical activity and this is what a PET scan picks up. The higher the SUV the more chance the activity is due to cancer cells, however, PET scans can sometimes give a false positive result so that is why you have been referred for an ultrasound which will be able to see what, if any, activity is taking place in the muscles, tendons, lymph nodes etc in that area.
Hopefully the problem in your ankle will be a false positive or will be something that is easily treatable and won’t be connected to your melanoma diagnosis. Your consultant sounds to be very on the ball and quickly determining the problem.
Good luck and please let us know how you get on,
Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)
919 posts since
25 Jun 2018
Hi Holly and thanks for posting
It sounds like you’ve been through a lot and this is another thing to get your head round- it must be very frustrating and stressful.
SUV stands for standardised uptake value. It’s a bit difficult to explain but I’ll try. When you have a PET or PET/CT scan you can be injected with a dye. Depending on the injected dose and patient’s size, the uptake of the dye that is then found in parts of the body is measured. It doesn’t seem to be a very exact science, but anything over 2 may be suggestive of further investigation, but as we are not involved in your care and don’t have any of your details, it’s difficult to comment on.
The ultrasound should give some more information as to what may be going in the area, especially as the specialist says, the achilles is a difficult part of the body to feel for lumps or bumps.The best person to ask any questions though, would really be your specialist or specialist nurse as they will have all your medical details to hand.
I hope you get the results through soon so you don’t have to wait too long.
If you would like to go over anything, please do though give us a call. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.
All the best
Wanda
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