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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Had Melanoma On Toe, Cancer In Lymph Nodes In Groin, Non Calcified Nodules In Lungs, Spread To Lungs. What Does This Mean?

Hi My dad, 76 years old, had melanoma on his toe. It was removed a year ago. The cancer was in the lymph nodes. The doctor removed some lymph nodes in the groin area and all negative. Two weeks ago, we went back for check up, had a CT scan. There are bilateral, multifocal noncalcified nodules in both lungs. The doctor told us it had been spread to the lungs and prognosis is not good.
My dad feels fine, happy and very active. No symptoms at all. Are we 100% sure that the cancer had spread to the lungs? Could the nodules be something else?
Thanks.
Mon, 7 Oct 2013
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Oncologist, Surgical,  's  Response
By the picture you have given, the likelihood of this being cancer is much higher than it being anything else. Malignant melanoma is one of the deadliest cancers in the human body and is known to come back, generally in the lungs or liver. It is curable only in the early stages and when it has spread to the lymph nodes, likelihood of cure is remote. Having said that, please be assured that the treatment that has been given so far to your dad is absolutely correct and scientific and is the reason why he has survived so far. If you really want to be sure whether this is cancer or not, you can get a PET scan done. But there is little doubt that this is cancer. The options also are not very many particularly at his age and you need to discuss them with your oncologist. Sorry to say, but your dad's health is going to deteriorate with time as the disease has just come back.Take care.
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Had Melanoma On Toe, Cancer In Lymph Nodes In Groin, Non Calcified Nodules In Lungs, Spread To Lungs. What Does This Mean?

By the picture you have given, the likelihood of this being cancer is much higher than it being anything else. Malignant melanoma is one of the deadliest cancers in the human body and is known to come back, generally in the lungs or liver. It is curable only in the early stages and when it has spread to the lymph nodes, likelihood of cure is remote. Having said that, please be assured that the treatment that has been given so far to your dad is absolutely correct and scientific and is the reason why he has survived so far. If you really want to be sure whether this is cancer or not, you can get a PET scan done. But there is little doubt that this is cancer. The options also are not very many particularly at his age and you need to discuss them with your oncologist. Sorry to say, but your dad s health is going to deteriorate with time as the disease has just come back.Take care.