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Diagnosed with Melanoma? Get a Second Opinion!

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These results show that diagnoses ranging from moderately atypical lesions to early stage invasive melanoma are neither accurate nor reproducible, say the authors.

While I am the first person to be cynical about conventional oncology I am also the first person to admit that diagnosing cancer is difficult. The article below talks about melanoma. But pathologists have similar challenges with many cancers including breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Challenging diagnoses is one of the many reasons to get a second opinion.

Further, a diagnosis of any cancer is not a zero/sum game. Just because your oncologist is told by the pathologist that the sample removed from your skin is in fact melanoma, it is then challenging to determine the stage and therapy plan-

To complicate this issue further conventional oncology has few if any effective therapies for melanoma yet there are several integrative therapies shown to enhance the efficacy of specific chemotherapy regimens.

  • Is the cancer aggressive or slow growing?
  • What is the age and health of the patient? How will the patient respond to chemotherapy and or radiation?
  • Do I treat the cancer more or less aggressively ? Is it about quantity or quality of life?

I am a long-term survivor of an “incurable” cancer called multiple myeloma. I am also a cancer coach. Have you been diagnosed with melanoma? Scroll down the page, post a question or comment and I will reply to you ASAP.

To Learn More About Melanoma- click now

Thank you,

David Emerson

  • Cancer Survivor
  • Cancer Coach
  • Director PeopleBeatingCancer

Recommended Reading:


Study raises concern over accuracy of melanoma diagnoses

“The results show that diagnoses can vary among pathologists, particularly for cases in the middle of the disease spectrum, suggesting the potential for both overdiagnosis and under diagnosis…

Diagnosis relies on visual assessment of skin samples (biopsies) under a microscope by a pathologist, but the reliability of the criteria used to diagnose these skin have never been established with rigorous standards…

The study was inspired by Dr Elmore’s experience as a patient undergoing a , which resulted in three different independent interpretations, ranging from benign to invasive . Ten years later she is healthy and doing research on the topic…

The highest levels of accuracy were found for class I mild lesions (92%) and class V high stage invasive melanoma (72%) – these cases are at the polar ends of the disease spectrum…

In contrast, interpretations for cases in the middle of the spectrum had noticeably lower accuracy, as less than half of the diagnoses were in concordance with the reference diagnosis; class II moderately atypical lesions (25%); class III severely atypical lesions and melanoma in situ (40%); and class IV early stage invasive melanoma (43%)…

Many pathologists agree overdiagnosis of skin cancer happens, but don’t change diagnosis behavior

“As the most serious type of skin cancer, a melanoma diagnosis carries emotional, financial and medical consequences. That’s why recent studies finding that there is an overdiagnosis of melanoma are a significant cause for concern.

“Overdiagnosis is the diagnosis of disease that will not harm a person in their lifetime. If melanoma is being overdiagnosed, it means that too many people are getting the scary news that they have cancer, and receiving and paying for unnecessary treatment,” said Kathleen Kerr, professor of biostatistics in the UW School of Public Health.

Kerr recently published results of a study involving more than 100 dermatopathologists — pathologists who specialize in skin diseases and who diagnose melanoma — to find out if they believe that melanoma overdiagnosis is a public health issue in the U.S. and whether that belief affects their own conclusions. The pathologists were given biopsy slides to diagnose and were surveyed on their perceptions of overdiagnosis.

Kerr discussed the results of this study, published April 20 in JAMA Dermatology, in the following Q&A with UW News:

  • How can you know if a disease is being overdiagnosed?
  • Why does this happen when it comes to melanoma?
  • What did find in your study?
  • What do you think is the importance of this finding?

 

 

Leave a Comment:

2 comments
Waverly Bratcher says 5 years ago

I have Myeloma diagnosed in April. I have been to the mm institute in Little Rock Arkansas and to MD Anderson. I don’t have any lesions or kidney issues.
I am petrified about chemo and most days feel like I’d rather die than go through it. MD wants me to begin in one week and I’m trying to decide what to do. I am 66, weigh 97lbs. & have been very healthy up until now. I would love to hear from you.

Reply
    David Emerson says 5 years ago

    Hi Waverly-

    I am sorry for your MM diagnosis. Several things. First of all, both UAMS and MDA are top notch MM centers. They are conventional and aggressive but they are two of the best if you choose to go that route.

    Secondly, it sounds like you are early MM or stage 1. You say you have no bone involvement and no kidney damage. Have you been told your monoclonal protein aka m-spike? Depending on your stage you may be better off not undergoing an autologous stem cell transplant at this point.

    Thirdly, research confirms that an ASCT now or later make no difference to an MMers overall survival. Your oncologist should understand if you tell him/her to wait. I can send you the study that confirms this.

    Lastly, there are a host of evidence-based therapies (nutrition, supplementation, lifestyle, etc.) that are anti-mm. I have remained in complete remission for years by living an evidence-based, non-toxic, anti-mm lifestyle.

    The bottom line is that you can take your treatment one step at a time. There is no benefit to having an ASCT now.

    Let me know if you have any questions.

    Hang in there,

    David Emerson

    Reply
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