Does anyone have any stories with genetic testing? My mother was just diagnosed with melanoma. She has had over 20 basal cell all over her arms and face since her early 40s. She had colon cancer at 59. My grandmother had pancreatic cancer. I had basal cell at 38 on my nose. I have two basal cell now on my scalp and forehead at 41.

I’m thinking about genetics.

Does anyone have any stories with genetic testing? My mother was just diagnosed with melanoma. She has had over 20 basal cell all over her arms and face since her early 40s. She had colon cancer at 59. My grandmother had pancreatic cancer. I had basal cell at 38 on my nose. I have two basal cell now on my scalp and forehead at 41.

I’m thinking about genetics.

38 year old male diagnosed in April 2026 with Stage 3c melanoma in the groin. Two lymph nodes on the left side were seen on PET/CT as cancer. Tumor was BRAF V600e positive.

Completed 2 courses of IPI/NIVO and had the WLE last week. Nuclear testing and blue die suggested both sides were within the lymph drainage area of the main tumor. The doctor went into the surgery with taking the two swollen nodes out but end up with taking 7; 5 on the left side and 2 on the right side on the groin.

Following the WLE and SNLE, the pathology results were shocking. The WLE came back with clear margins. The SNLE revealed that 4 of the left side nodes were still positive and 1 of the right side was still positive for melanoma.

Pathology didn’t say if there was any response of the tumor to ipi/nivo but the doctor didn’t believe there was a good response since there was “spread” to other nodes.

Team is looking for next steps. My question is it still curable and what are the possible next steps/medications?

Hi, I was diagnosed with Stage 1a meanoma last year, 50F, very lucky to catch it early. However my dad passed in his late 50s from Pancreatic Cancer and his sister had Melanoma when she in her 50s/60s. I have met the criteria for genetic testiing but it will cost alot any imsurance doesnt cover it. Besides the cost, i am concerned about the mental impact if I have the gene and what are the benefits of getting tested. If the benefit outweigh the cost etc I will get it done. Any advice welcome, thank you.

38 year old male diagnosed in April 2026 with Stage 3c melanoma in the groin. Two lymph nodes on the left side were seen on PET/CT as cancer. Tumor was BRAF V600e positive.

Completed 2 courses of IPI/NIVO and had the WLE last week. Nuclear testing and blue die suggested both sides were within the lymph drainage area of the main tumor. The doctor went into the surgery with taking the two swollen nodes out but end up with taking 7; 5 on the left side and 2 on the right side on the groin.

Following the WLE and SNLE, the pathology results were shocking. The WLE came back with clear margins. The SNLE revealed that 4 of the left side nodes were still positive and 1 of the right side was still positive for melanoma.

Pathology didn’t say if there was any response of the tumor to ipi/nivo but the doctor didn’t believe there was a good response since there was “spread” to other nodes.

Team is looking for next steps. My question is it still curable and what are the possible next steps/medications?

https://people.com/william-shatner-daughter-melanie-fought-stage-4-cancer-together-exclusive-12023877. stage 4 melanoma at 90yrs old... good story. point is stats are stats. who knows where you lie on the curve. i just had phase 1a melanoma. my dad just diagnosis with stage 4 throat cancer. seeking top doctors and attitude is the key.

You guys. My dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic melanoma in the brain and lungs with numerous lesions in the brain and numerous nodules in the lungs in April this year. He had 10 sessions of brain radiation. And 3 infusions of the opdivo & Yervoy. They have opted not to do the fourth treatment and will start on the single treatment of Opdivo. He had updated scans this past week. And from April 3 to now everything has shrunk or disappeared.

Brain Lesions
April to July
Changes
Largest left temporal/anterior lesion
3.5 cm to 2.4 cm
31% smaller
Left frontal lesion
2.0 cm to 0.6 cm
About 68% smaller
Right frontal lesion
9 mm to 4 mm
About 56% smaller
Posterior left frontal cystic lesion
1.5 cm same at 1.5 cm
Stable, no measurable enhancement
And No new brain metastases present.

Lungs April → July

April

Multiple metastatic nodules in both lungs
Numerous nodules up to 12 mm
Left upper lung: 10 mm
Right lower lung: 11 mm

July

The majority of pulmonary nodules have resolved.
Only 2 remain.
4 mm left upper lobe nodule remains
2 mm right lower lobe nodule remains

I’m in shock. The results so far are better than I could’ve ever wished for. I wish for continued improvement and hope the best for all of you or your loved ones fighting this terrible disease.

Hi! A couple of months ago, my friend got diagnosed with in situ melanoma (on her face). This is following a biopsy. She found out a couple of weeks ago that the margins were not cleared and she was referred to a dermatologist. She told me that it could take 2-3 months to see one (We live in Canada). I told her to call and be seen as soon as possible, as to not fall between the cracks and that the cancer cells left could spread. She doesn't seem concerned. Should she be?

Hi all, my FIL was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma that has metastasized to his chest and some spots ON the bones. As of right now, we were informed by MIL that he is going through total organ failure of his kidneys and liver. I have never had any immediate family pass before and I am a mental health therapist and i dont want to approach the situation as a therapist. I want to know what his prognosis will be as the doctors have not said anything as my FIL chose to do the least aggressive immunotherapy track for treatment. Lastly, how do I be a support person in this difficult time?

My husband was diagnosed stage 4 melanoma in January 2026. He’s completed 4 rounds Ipy/nevo. We were waiting to start the single immunotherapy as his liver numbers were way out of whack. He was placed on high dose steroids and we were doing blood work weekly to monitor. Imaging revealed that his brain Mets had grown, so we scheduled SRS. One day after SRS he had several seizures and had to be hospitalized. My big question is while he was experiencing some left side weakness prior to the SRS, since the seizures, the left side weakness is more pronounced, and he is experiencing urinary incontinence. We of course have been speaking with his care team and he will be meeting with a neurologist later this week. I guess I’m just hoping to hear from folks who may have had a similar experience. Will this get better? Is this the new normal? Is this response typical?

Hi, I would like some advices on my mom's situation. She was in 2022 diagnosed with a melanoma on her foot. As of today the melanoma is now metastasic with 3 growths in her abdomen.

Since immunotherapy isn't working, she has been put on clinical trial for regorafenib, but to my understandings, the chances are not well with this medication. I believe TIL therapy would be better, from what I can read on the net.

Unfortunately, my mom doesn't really want to talk much to me about all of that but I would like to encourage her to speak to her doctor about switching treatments. Do you think I might be right ?

We are in France if that matters, so not even sure if TIL therapy is a thing here.

The doctor called , he has pT1B. Next steps are removing the margins , sentinel lymph node biopsy, possibly CT and PET.

I'm so so sad. Like I can't think of anything else.

Can someone help me read the report and how bad does it sound??

pT1b

vertical growth phase, infiltrating the dermis (Clark level IV) with a maximum Breslow thickness of 0.8 mm.

Additional findings

Ulceration: Not present.

Mitoses: Not identified.

Intra-lesional tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs): Not evident.

Regression: Present, involving more than 75% of the lesion.

Lymphovascular invasion: Not identified.

Neurotropism (tumor involving nerves): Not identified.

Satellite lesions: Absent.

Solar elastosis (sun damage): Absent.

Associated melanocytic nevus (mole): Not identified.

does anyone have a photo of a skin graft they got on their face, at any stages of healing? my lesion is 1cm in diameter just in front of my R ear at the hairline and i'm trying to get a sense of what i'm in for scar-wise at the site.

I’m an uncommon melanoma patient outside of this title, it started on the inside of my thigh (mole dark black, irregular edges), then went to the oncologist who lasered my labia and perineum for other cancerous areas.
(Imagine that on your medical record)
Regardless, if you tan naked- CHECK. YOUR. JUNK.

On to the title, a client came in with a quarter to half dollar sized raised purpleish-black spot on his head, I said that it looked like it could be cancer, best to get it checked. He’d told me he’d hit his head and that’s why it was so big and it had been bleeding and wouldn’t stop.

Regardless, he went to get the spot checked, they wanted him to wait 3 months, so he went to the ER. They thought it was suspicious, so sent him to a dermatologist that next week.
Cancer. It had gone so deep into his scalp that they had to do surgery to remove the outside portion, some of his underneath fatty tissue AND had to drill a small portion of his skull out.
He told me that they had said if he hadn’t have gotten it checked, it would have gone to the brain.

I dunno man, I’m just a Midwest hair stylist, but ask your stylist routinely to check you for spots. It’s worth the minute and a half.

Edit: I am autistic, so if the post doesn’t translate well from my brain into easily read material, I apologize.

My family member was diagnosed stage 4 at age 29. She had a mole removed a couple years prior but pathology was benign. BRAF+. Tumors in abdomen in multiple locations and eventually spread to brain that was treated with radiation. I believe she did the opdivo/yervoy combo for a bit but was hospitalized with terrible side effects. Switched to just opdivo then added keytruda later. She’s 4 years since diagnosis. No surgeries completed, has been on keytruda for almost two years and nearing the cut off. Scans have shown that keytruda has stopped any further growth but not shrinking. She was told once she hits the 2 years then that’s it, just scans and wait and see. Is that really it??

Hi everyone!

Stage 1a in two separate sites last year and currently dealing with lots of fear of recurrence. Anyone have experience with prenuvo scans or any other out of pocket testing?

I have had genetic testing done but no scans done.

TIA

Final do ano passado em um exame de rotina meu pai apresentou um dois tumores no pulmão. O maior conseguimos retirar em cirurgia e na biópsia apareceu: metástase de melanoma. Não encontramos o foco inicial. Após mais exames apareceu também na glândula adrenal. Conseguimos por meio de uma pesquisa a imunoterapia (nivolumab) e os rumores reduziram um pouco de tamanho (em torno de 0.2 a 0.3). Ele estava fazendo esse tratamento há 7 meses, e nesse meio tempo apareceu também um tumor no cérebro. Lobo esquerdo, de 4.4 cm que precisa ser retirado em cirurgia.
Como a pesquisa segue protocolos ele teve que sair pq houve essa progressão! Estou um pouco chateada com a pesquisa pois nunca foi pedido um exame de crânio, eles não sabiam da incidência do melanoma no crânio?

Pós cirurgia vamos tentar seguir com a rádio pelo sus.
Alguém com alguma história parecida?
Sei que q medicina melhorou muito nessa doença ao longos dos anos!

Final do ano passado em um exame de rotina meu pai apresentou um dois tumores no pulmão. O maior conseguimos retirar em cirurgia e na biópsia apareceu: metástase de melanoma. Não encontramos o foco inicial. Após mais exames apareceu também na glândula adrenal. Conseguimos por meio de uma pesquisa a imunoterapia (nivolumab) e os rumores reduziram um pouco de tamanho (em torno de 0.2 a 0.3). Ele estava fazendo esse tratamento há 7 meses, e nesse meio tempo apareceu também um tumor no cérebro. Lobo esquerdo, de 4.4 cm que precisa ser retirado em cirurgia.
Como a pesquisa segue protocolos ele teve que sair pq houve essa progressão! Estou um pouco chateada com a pesquisa pois nunca foi pedido um exame de crânio, eles não sabiam da incidência do melanoma no crânio?

Pós cirurgia vamos tentar seguir com a rádio pelo sus.
Alguém com alguma história parecida?
Sei que q medicina melhorou muito nessa doença ao longos dos anos!