Skin Cancer

[Guest]

I have a newly diagnosed nodular melanoma of my upper arm - excisional biopsy was performed - path report showed 2.6 mm Breslow with Clark's level 4. Surgeon is going to do wide excision in two days - biopsy was performed one month ago. Surgeon says oncologist does not want sentinel node biopsy - doesn't feel it is necessary. What is the general consensus on a node biopsy at the time of wide excision? I have not yet been staged (pending wide excision and path report).

[Guest]

In my practice a melanoma with a Breslow depth of 2.6 mm would be considered relatively thick; in these instances I usually recommend a sentinel node biopsy as the prognosis between thick tumors which are node positive is different then those which are node negative. thank you for using oncologychannel and good luck.
[quote] I have a newly diagnosed nodular melanoma of my upper arm - excisional biopsy was performed - path report showed 2. 6 mm Breslow with Clark's level 4... [/quote]