Amelanotic Melanoma -- 2018 diagnosis with pictures
Hi all,
Diagnosed with amelanotic melanoma in 2018. Was 37 years old at the time, and had just been treated for papillary thyroid cancer (thyroidectomy) months earlier!
The details of my pathology report/diagnosis are already fading memory, which I mention if only to provide hope and encouragement to others that this too shall pass.
Have two photos to share which am hoping there will be an option to upload; if not, please message me.
So, my melanotic melanoma was initially misdiagnosed as a benign mole (or rather an "old friend, as the dermatologist put it). This took place in Seattle, Washington, though I am originally from Baltimore, MD. Many blistering childhood sunburns -- but never tanned or sunbathed. (In my mid-20s I did however get some bad sunburns one summer while in Greece.)
The melanoma was .8 in Breslow depth, non-ulcerated, and was roughly the diameter of a pencil eraser. It was decided to perform a wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy. The node biopsy came back clear and I think my staging was ultimately 1-b.
All these years later, I do the recommended skin exams (which now are just once a year). I know it is a sneaky disease and likes to recur, but it does not scare me as it used to.
Take care everyone,
Rebecca Anne Young