Metastatic Malignant Melanoma was found in one of eight lymph nodes removed during 3/15 surgery.  Metastasis (tumor) measured 0.8 mm.  Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy performed during previous surgery returned one lymph node with metastasis (tumor) measuring 0.43 mm.  The quantity and size of tumors may give the Oncologists an indication of how extensive the spreading of melanoma cells in her blood is.  Removing the axillary lymph nodes was the last available surgical step in trying to deter distant spreading.

MD Anderson called today to pre-register.  Pathology reports and PET Scan results are being forwarded to them.  They will use that information to determine which group of doctors to shedule her with.  (UPDATE: MD Anderson consultation is set for Wednesday 3/31.  Next local oncologist (Dr. Xiong) appointment is Friday 4/9)

Follow up with vascular surgeon has been rescheduled for Monday 3/22 awaiting drainage to reduce to less than 30cc per 24 hours.

​Erica's second night of rest after surgery was much better.  She described her pain this afternoon as a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10 (she described as 9 in recovery area after surgery), which I must say she tollerates very well.  She had some nausea this morning and was sick one time, probably from the pain pill doses overnight without food.  Drainage remains consistent at 100cc per 24 hours.  Follow up appointment with surgeon will probably be postponed until Monday 3/22 as the drainage needs to be below 30cc per 24 hours to have drain tube removed.  She is eating well and drinking a lot of fluids.

​Axillary lymph node disection was performed this morning by Vascular Surgeon Dr. John Crawford.  The surgery took about an hour and a half.  We arrived at the hospital at 7am and left about 1:45pm.  The doctor reported the surgery went well.  Other than two lymph nodes appearing inflamed everything else was normal.  There's a drain tube installed to drain the fluid from the area.  Pathology report from biopsy is expected by 3/17 and the doctor requested a follow up appointment for 3/18 if drainage is below 30cc in last 24 hour period, otherwise the follow up will be delayed until 3/22.

​In late 2009 my husband noticed a mole on the back of my left arm that he said looked a little funny.  I intended to have the mole checked but several months passed before I realized (time fly's) the mole had become itchy and was bleeding a little when I scratched it.  I showed it to my Dad (Dr. Dennis Lehman) at the end of January 2010 and he said I definitely needed to have it looked at.

I visited a dermatologist where he removed the mole and sent it to the lab for biopsy.  Three days later I received a call informing me the mole was malignant melanoma.  I was devastated with the news.  My Dad was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma about 5 years prior,  so I was already somewhat familiar with what I was facing.

It was recommended that I see a surgeon as soon as possible and I was referred to Dr. Robert G. Anderson.  He's a plastic surgeon in Fort Worth, TX that specializes in removing melanoma from the skin.  Two days after receiving the initial biopsy info I was in Dr. Anderson's office.  He set the appointment for surgery to remove the tumor site and surrounding tissue down to the muscle about the diameter of the bottom of a coke can.  The original tumor was 1.18 MM in thickness/depth and approximately 7 x 6 x 1 MM overall.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers with no proven or consistent treatment for cure.  We all have cancer cells in our body throughout our lifetime but most peoples immune system can manage them.  For some reason my immune system isn't capable.  Lifetime risk for Americans having skin cancer is currently 1 in 70 people.  Upon my diagnosis in February 2010 the clinical stage of my cancer was stage IIIa.