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Is Melanoma Curable?

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Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2014
Question: My father was diagnosed with Melanoma, how long usually people live with this type of cancer, not sure yet what stage it is we just found out today. He have like 5 lumps on his head and one on his hip. is this to much or to little to be a Identified what stage it is or any kind of hope?

Thank you
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (40 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
If not metastasize, complete cure is possible!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about this diagnosis. If this cancer has moved beyond the primary lesions, then the prognosis is very poor as we have no effective chemotherapy for this. However, if it is confined to these primary sites that you have listed which seem very unlikely seen the number of tumors you have described, surgery would provide a complete cure.

I have reviewed the attached CT scan of the lungs. It is difficult to conclude on a single image whether the lesions seen are suggestive of metastases. It would be best to provide the complete scans or reports the findings f the radiologist for comments. In any case, a lung metastases makes the prognosis a lot poorer than if there was none.

The exact prognosis can only be determined after staging the disease fully. The site of metastases greatly influences the duration of survival as well. We would need all of this information before being able to make a final call on what the prognosis is. Please share with us when you have it for more insight information on this.

I hope this addresses your query fully. I wish your dad the best of all possible outcomes. Thank you so much for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarification should need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (23 minutes later)
Thank you for your answer. I'm attaching all the CT scan as well a report from his biopsy, it is in Albanian language but most of the report is medical terms which Im hoping you have understanding to this language. Thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Thanks!

Detailed Answer:
The report of his biopsy is clear about the diagnosis of his melanoma.

I didn't see any evidence of a tumor in the lungs. This should be confirmed by the radiologist. If this stands, it is good news. Do you have an idea whether the lymph glands were swollen or not? This will also influence the prognosis but better outcomes than if the tumor has spread beyond the lymph glands.

Let me hear from you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (33 minutes later)
Thank you so much.
4 weeks a go the very first lymph was size of pistachio, he whent for operation and that did not heal yet, after that one are another 4 more came to the same size as the first one, another one on his hip and one more in a size of a egg on his lower stomach which this one was taken for his biopsy, and is healed perfectly fine.

Only the one on his head that was operated is not healed yet and the rest are only sort of red.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I am afraid it has spred to the lymph glands

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for following up me. With this additional information, I am strongly suspicious of a possible spread of this cancer from the initial site(s) to the lymph glands. This offers a some what less than superb prognosis but better than if it had spread to distant organs like the bones/lungs/liver/etc.


Whatever the case maybe, it is not any good news about the outcome of this cancer. Where precisely it spreads would influence for how longer he may be bale to live. I will advice that you seek to the recommendation of the treating physician but there is very little that can be done when surgery is no longer an option to consider.

What is the current plan for your dad now?
I wish him the very best of possible outcomes.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Ivo Ditah

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3984 Questions

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Is Melanoma Curable?

Brief Answer: If not metastasize, complete cure is possible! Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about this diagnosis. If this cancer has moved beyond the primary lesions, then the prognosis is very poor as we have no effective chemotherapy for this. However, if it is confined to these primary sites that you have listed which seem very unlikely seen the number of tumors you have described, surgery would provide a complete cure. I have reviewed the attached CT scan of the lungs. It is difficult to conclude on a single image whether the lesions seen are suggestive of metastases. It would be best to provide the complete scans or reports the findings f the radiologist for comments. In any case, a lung metastases makes the prognosis a lot poorer than if there was none. The exact prognosis can only be determined after staging the disease fully. The site of metastases greatly influences the duration of survival as well. We would need all of this information before being able to make a final call on what the prognosis is. Please share with us when you have it for more insight information on this. I hope this addresses your query fully. I wish your dad the best of all possible outcomes. Thank you so much for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarification should need be.