Melanoma and More - Need a Dr's help

Melanoma and More - Need a Dr's help
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honeygal
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Aug 2, 2006, 7:09 PM

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Melanoma and More - Need a Dr's help	Quote \| Reply

I have multiple questions. I'm trying to help my sister since her doctors can't seem to communicate with each other and she is stressed to the max trying to figure out what is going on. She was diagnosed with melanoma a few months ago. She's had major problems with her thyroid for over a year (we feel sure there is a misdiagnosis of hypothyroid instead of hyperthyroid). She had an abnormal pab smear, enlarged uterus, abnormal mammogram, triglycerides are in the 700 range, CR125 was high, and now complex ovarian cysts. None of her doctors - primary, endocrinologist, gynecologist, oncologist, dermatologist seem to know what is going on. They aren't looking at all her test results, communicating with her or each other. Does anyone have any idea of what all these things may mean? Who can she/we talk to that can look at the test results and connect the dots? She's had mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI's, CT scans, PET scans, blood tests, and more. They are all out of whack somehow but the doctors just refer her to more doctors.

I am worried and can't let her know this because we just lost a brother to melanoma that metastacized to his brain, liver, spine, lung, and stomach in less than a year. I want her to get some answers now. She's been going to doctors for over a year and none of them seem to know what is going on. Even though my sister's dermatologist and surgeon felt they got all the melanoma in its early stages, I know how quickly it can spread to the other organs. I'm concerned that the longer they wait to do anything and if it is cancer, the more it will spread. Any ideas? Thank you for any help.

smithn
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Aug 5, 2006, 10:13 PM

Post #2 of 2 (161 views)
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Re: [honeygal] Melanoma and More - Need a Dr's help [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

It's hard to answer your questions here because not only are there multiple issues but there isn't enough information. If since your sister recently had her Melanoma removed, then that would explain the elevated CR-125 result. Depending on where this cancer was removed from her body, I'm assuming the CT and PET scans were ordered to cover that area. These must have shown results negative for existent cancer or your sister would either be scheduled for further excision(s) or back to the oncologist for therapy. I'm not sure what you mean exactly when you say her studies "all came back out of whack". Most people who are healthy and "normal" don't necessarily have completely normal test results. There are all sorts of changes that are evident due to age, what we eat, and the medications we take. If your sister questions the diagnosis of her thyroid issue, then she should get a second opinion from another endocrinologist. Her enlarged uterus is very typical. Many women have this and it can mean absolutely nothing. Ovarian cysts are another typical condition. Her enlarged uterus could be due to the ovarian cysts. Maybe there are uterine cysts as well? These come and go. The body can absorb these at times and other times, surgery is necessary. What was found on her mammogram that was abnormal? Was it a cyst? A calcification? You're not clear here. What are her LDL, HDL, VLDL, and Total Cholesterol levels? I would bet that they are elevated as well as her Triglyceride level. That means she needs to change her eating habits pronto. She needs a medication to help lower these levels. 700 is a big red flag for coronary artery disease. Your sisters problems are multiple and seemingly unrelated to any one particular issue/disease/disorder. Sorry we couldn't be of better help but it's too vague.

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