Melanoma and pred

[Sanekate]

I've just been diagnosed with a malignant melanoma. The dermatology nurse said taking steroids for a long time can make this more likely because of the reduced immune response. I'm in shock, and I'm posting this to tell everyone to please keep a careful eye out themselves.his was a funny mole that I didn't spot before it got dangerous. I wish someone had told me this when I started pred.

[SheffieldJane]

What a worry Sanekate! I hope they’ve caught it in good time. I am covered in warty type moles and should really have them looked at. They sometimes itch. I have been to Australia to see family over 15 times. They were dismissed by a GP who made me feel foolish pre- pandemic. So I never asked again.I know that we should avoid being in the direct sun and I don’t like it anyway. How was this one diagnosed?

[Sanekate in reply to SheffieldJane]

It was noticed by the nurse when I was having a Dexa bone scan - it is in a hard-to-see place on my back, and quite well established.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Sanekate]

I hope it works out well for you! Clever nurse.

[Sanekate in reply to SheffieldJane]

Exactly- she may have literally saved my life

[Downtime]

I had one in 2019 . I’m prone to skin cancer but they said mine was probably due to the immune suppressing drugs I took for Rheumatoid arthritis. I no longer take biologics but I am still on methotrexate. Sadly I’ve now got PMR as well so have to take steroids. I have 3 monthly checks and an annual scan but it’s fingers crossed as there isn’t really anything I can do to reduce the drugs as I would be in constant pain with joint damage etc. I agree you must keep an eye on your skin and get anything unusual checked as these things are more likely when we’re on these drugs especially if you are already at risk with fair skin, sun exposure etc. 😞

[beaglab]

Oh no! I am sorry! Can the Dr get rid of it? What were you taking prednisone for? If is was for inflammation, maybe joint health supplements and collagen would help.

[Sanekate in reply to beaglab]

Taking pred for PMR. It has been removed and I'm having a lymph node biopsy & scan to see whether it has spread.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'm sorry to hear that - all the best for the treatment. My SIL had melanoma and was very successfully treated for years.

Of course as usual pred gets the focus, but it isn't just pred, it is longterm use of any immunosuppressant therapy and also combination of such drugs and they are far more significant than pred alone - and particularly in melanoma.

A study did find that there is an increase in the incidence of skin cancers - but non-melanoma types, no increase was found in melanoma.

webmd.com/cancer/lymphoma/n...

[Sanekate in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. That is actually comforting, to think that it isn't caused by pred.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sanekate]

I know what you mean. Hugs

[Lochy]

Just wishing you well in your treatment and good luck. Prednisolone is the miracle drug we all need but it has its disadvantages too. I’ve been considering a mole check for sometime now and this has given me the push. X

[CathyM64]

Really sorry to hear that Sanekate. Hope and pray that your biopsy and scan come back clear x

[borednow]

Please don't panic. I developed a "funny mole" (lovely description) when I was about 35, had it removed and all was well. 2nd one approximately 18 years later when I was about 60 and again it was removed. I didn't start taking steroids until I was 73 (over 5 years ago ) and I'm still here. When the first one arrived, nobody would tell me what it was (they didn't talk about it in those days!) and it took a lot of research on my part to get a proper diagnosis. So I was prepared for the 2nd one. My point is that steroids had nothing to do with either of my funny moles and I'm not sure I'm happy about your dermatology nurse's opinion. Maybe get a 2nd opinion from a specialist?

[Sanekate in reply to borednow]

I'm being treated by the dermatology oncology dept - mole already graded by histology as stage 2 nodular tumour. Just hoping it hasn't gone walkabout yet. On another topic, does your user name indicate you are a Buffy fan?

[borednow in reply to Sanekate]

Good news re dermatology oncology dept - sounds as though you're being well looked after. Research regarding your Buffy fan comment certainly made me sit up! No not a Buffy fan, name just picked (without much thought obviously ) as I was borednow with the whole PMR jobby at the time of joining the site. Little did I know I would still be here for so long. However, 5 years later now down to 2mgs a day (working on 1.5mgs) Onwards and upwards ............

[Downtime]

Mine was a stage 3 t a nodular melanoma. After the initial op I had a wide excision and lymph node removal. No cells were found at the original site and none in lymph nodes. There are treatments now ( immunotherapy) but I’m sure with yours being a lower grade you hopefully won’t need anything, just check ups. 🤞x

[Sanekate in reply to Downtime]

Me too! Glad to hear your positive outcome and hope you stay safe 🙏

[mtrafter]

I have been on Pred for over 4 years currently trying to taper to 5mg. Over this period have developed many different skin 'things' that I ignored until this week when a Dermatologist checked them out, 4 she thought were suspicious so were biopsied immediately and will go back next wk to have stitches out and get reports on biopsies plus further checks on some of the other skin lesions.Pred or this condition we have just keeps on giving surprises. Like the cataracts I have to have removed.

So its fingers🤞

[whitefishbay]

It should be a yearly thing for the gp /nurse to look for moles once a year. I know my sister has that (in USA). Not done in UK (for me anyway). Thinking of you best of luck. Guess we all need to be vigilant mole hunters.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to whitefishbay]

Something that surprised me was that at 65 or so the GP ordered a load of screenings for OH - PSA and stuff but also a dermy appointment. They found a couple of moles they were a bit suspicious of and did one biopsy which was clear. When I got to 65 - no such offer ... Maybe I don't have enough visible moles!

[whitefishbay in reply to PMRpro]

And you live where the sun must shine clearly as there must be little pollution in Alta Badia. I don't know why this can't be done by a trained nurse.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to whitefishbay]

Ah well - nurses here are not as high up the pecking order as in the UK!!!! This region does have one of the highest rates of skin cancer in Europe. everyone is outside all the time. And if you saw the suntans (equivalent to sun damage) they walk around with all year round ...

[Sanekate in reply to whitefishbay]

Thanks. As a lifelong sun-avoider (typical ginger colouring) it feels like very bad luck to have got it

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sanekate]

Except gingers are very much more likely to suffer ...

[YuliK in reply to Sanekate]

SaneKate good morning

It must have been quite a bit of a shock for you that the nurse said that you have melanoma.

Has the mole been officially biopsied yet ? Or is it just an assumption..

It maybe Melonoma in situ which means it hasn’t yet developed into melonoma.

The usual procedure for melonoma or melonoma/ in situ is a procedure known as MOHs.

MOHs is a procedure with a 95% certainty that it won’t return.

My SiL had exactly as you …

Good luck, keep your pecker up.

YuliK 🌷🌷🌷

[Sanekate in reply to YuliK]

Unfortunately it was found late and is a nodular melanoma stage 2 in size. It has been removed and I'm now,waiting for lymph node biopsy to see if it has spread