Breast cancer - melanoma link

JoniB

When I visited my oncologist she looked at a mole on my arm and said I should have it checked out. I'm a "moley" person so I really didn't worry much about it.  The dermatologist did a biopsy and it came back stage 1 melanoma.  I started thinking about being diagnosed with two cancers within 7 months so I did an internet search and found that some scientists definitely think there is a link between breast cancer and melanoma and a higher percentage of breast cancer patients will be diagnosed with melanoma within a year of breast cancer than the general population. Now I had two additional moles biopsied. I feel like each part of my body is slowly going to "go".

Shirlann

Well, one thing that is for sure, if you have had one cancer, you are definitely in a group that certainly COULD have another one.  I too am moley, I have so many I just gave up.  But this can happen without breast cancer.  One of the presidential spokesmen, I can't remember his name, has had 3 cancers, all un-related.  He was so mad he wrote a book!

And we had our Padre's General Manager, Larry Luchino, he had Lymphoma about 15 years ago, had a stem cell transplant, was fine, then ten years after that, colon cancer.  He was treated and he is fine again.

Dang disease. But I think we have to just live our lives and be vigilant.  Can't live in the "what ifs" forever.  I remember Lady Diana was killed about 4 years after I was diagnosed, and if somebody had told me in the middle of breast cancer that she would die before me, I would have said they were crazy.

Let's hope this is it for you.

Gentle hugs, Shirlann 

pinoideae

Hmm, I dont know about the link.  I do know however, I had a small basal cell cancer on the bridge of my nose removed about 6 months prior I found out I had breast cancer. 

ravdeb

My theory is similar to Shirlann's...once diagnosed with any cancer, I believe we are more succeptible to other cancers because I believe our bodies, thus, know how to make cancer. I could be really off since I'm not a researcher or a doctor...but it just makes sense to me.

I was recently reconnected with one of my students from about 20 years ago. She told me her mom (who I know) has had 3 different cancers in the last 17 years and she's here to talk about it. 17 years ago she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. In the last few years she was diagnosed with breast cancer and when they went in to do the lymph node biopsy they found lymphoma! They skipped treating the bc and went right for the lymphoma with intense chemo. She's okay today!!! She is in her 70's and just ELOPED!

Joni and Summer...I'm sorry this has happened to both of you. Seems so unfair...

FloridaLady

There is a scientific link to melanoma and also thyroid cancer.  Do a Internet search, there are a lot new articles on this.  This search will also show that a mother with bc, has a higher chance that her daughter could have thyroid cancer.  I know two people this happened too, so I was researching this. 

Flalady

Anonymous

Sure seems like I keep hearing more and more women with breast cancer also being diagnosed with melanoma.  This whole cancer thing is scary.

Nicki

AlaskaDeb

Hey Joni -

You might also want to look at the PTEN gene testing.  I am part of a clynical trial for that gene mutation.  It raises the risk for both breast cancer and melanoma, as well as other cancers.

I have had BC, my dad melanoma and several people in my dad's family have had the other cancers on the list.  The testing is very expensive, and my insurance wouldn't pay, but my genetics councilor got me into a trial, I think in Ohio.  It takes about 4 months for the results, but there is no cost.

Here is a link to an explanation to the PTEN gene

  http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene=pten

Deb C

Anonymous

Hey DebC:  Thats was a great site.  Found it interesting.  I dont have moles, but everytime I go out into the sun I get freckles.  When I was younger I thought it was cute, but now that Im older and have breast cancer I think of them as old age spots or precursors to melanoma. 

Nicki

smithlme

One of the "other" cancers on the BRCA 2+ gene mutation is melanoma. Once I was diagnosed BRCA 2+, I went to a dermatologist to have a full body check. I had to fess up to my sun worshiping days of long ago. I now have to have a yearly check, which is a good idea for everyone...

Linda

jmfl

OMG, thank you so much for the info on PTEN! My brother had melanoma, my mother had uterine, my dad had prostate and now I have breast (DCIS). I knew it wasn't a coincidence! I thought it was because our hometown was a chemical waste dump (7th worst Superfund clean up site in the nation) but when I called the Dept of Environmental Health in our home state and spoke to someone who worked on the clean up, I was told that my family's cancers are not usually associated with environmental causes. I guess it is genetic after all.

 Julie

geebung

This is interesting. My mother had a malignant melanoma removed from her face when she was pregnant with me but they must have found it in time because she just turned 91. My father died of non-Hodgekins lymphoma. 

I was dx with extensive DCIS last year which resulted in a mastectomy. Towards the end of last year I had a squamous cell carcinoma removed from my neck (thankfully the margins were clear), two weeks ago I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my head and had to go back last week to have a larger area removed because the margins were not clear. Also last week I had a little lump removed from the tip of my tongue. I haven't heard back what the pathology is but am hoping for good news when I have my stitches out this Thursday.

All of these cancers were caught early and I'm thankful for this but I feel as though I have to be vigilant. My body's cells seem to have formed some sort of pact to misbehave! I want to forget about myself for a while.

FloridaLady

geebung,

What a history!  I hope you get a good report.  By the way...your puppy is sooo cute.

Flalady

tijwayh

I had it the other way around. Melanoma first and now recently diagnosed with A-typical hyperplacia in my right breast. I'll be having three tumors excised in 3 weeks. I won't know if I have BC untill the path reports are in afterwards. I was drawn to this thread about the Melanoma/BC connection. Interestingly, my doctor specialized in both. I'm still learning about both cancers.

 In 2006, my doctor noticed a mole on my ankle which turned out to be stage I melanoma. It was removed surgically. No chemo or radiation. Early detection thanks to my alert GP!

geebung

Hi FloridaLady!

It's not a puppy - it's a joey! My son rescued him and he is now with a kind lady who cares for wild creatures.

gb 

Liz08

I recall hearing and reading that once your body made cancer and it can easily make it again. I also recall reading something to that affect on the John Hopkins website too.  I too was diagnosed with a basal cell a few months after being diagnosed with breast cancer, now I was told I need to have skin checks every 6 months. I have to admit that I am a former sun worshiper and do enjoy the outdoors but now am limiting my sun exposure whenever I can. I have heard of people having many different cancers and living well into their 90's (for example my children's doctor's father has had 5 different cancers and is 92!). The key is living your life to the fullest and just being vigilant, if something is not right have it checked out.   

I have asked if there's a link to breast cancer and skin cancer; one doctor said possible and one doctor said no.  I think there is conflicting research out there.

chloekat

I too had a basal cell skin cancer on the right side of my face removed about 1 year before my BC diagnosis (right breast). I wondered if there was a correlation since both cancers are the slow-growing kind, but the docs said no. Then I was on a site (can't remember which) where you answered a questionnaire about your BC risk and there was a question of whether or not there was a history of skin cancer. It's kind of ironic. The basal cell on my face caused me to have to have a skin graft. I looked like Frankenstein for about 5 months. Now I have a shriveled booby and am bald. Somebody up there trying to tell me something? Was I too worried about my looks or something? LOL

tmac

I didn't read everyone's posts, but check out the 'Sunscreen' thread under the Holistic, Alernative treatement category.  Something to think about.

onwardandforward

Women with breast cancer may have a higher risk of melanoma.  BRAC2 has also been found in squamous cell carcinoma.  BUT basal cell carcinoma is SO common that it may well be unrelated genetically...especially for women who grew up getting way too much sun.  Unfortunately, the number of melanoma cases is increasing probably because of the increase in indoor tanning.

Best bet is to see a derm for a baseline check and then see what she says in terms of how often you should get checked (and of course use the old adage:  "see spot, see spot change, see a dermatologist")  If you've had skin cancers before, after you are done with your BC treatment, ask your derm about using a topical treatment to detect and treat some early nonmelanoma skin cancers early (topical 5FU or imiquidod).  And please protect yourself from the sun -- you can always take vit D supplements....

GreenMonkey

I see this thread has been inactive for awhile, but I wanted to see if their are others like me. 

I have had several basal cells removed over the years and in 2000 (?) I had a melanoma removed from my back. I did not have a SNB. 

In December of 2011 I was diagnosed with high grade DCIS on right and ADH on left.  Had a BMX in March of 2012 and my final pathology report showed (in addition to DCIS and ADH) ALH and LCIS. Lucky me, nothing invasive.

I had my surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering and noone ever focused on my melanoma.  They were more concerned with the fact that I am an "X" smoker (haven't smoked in over 20 years).

Because nothing was invasive, they did not do a HER2 test or a PR test so I do not know if I am HER2 + or - if I'm PR + or - 

Anyone else out there with melanoma's and DCIS? I have no family history of ANY cancer.  

GODISGOOD2012

I had moles removed from my body about 10 years ago.  There was one on my side that came back as pre-cancerous with the cells in the melanoma family. The doctor then went back in and did a larger removal of tissue to get a clean margin. Now, I have been dx with breast cancer Feb.2012.  I am planning to go and get my body checked again especially after reading these posts. Thanks GreenMonkey for posting an update on this discussion.  Also, I have a question.  Do most cancer patients go in for a bone scan??? I see that discussion alot also.   

Mardibra

Interesting....my sister died from Melanoma. My MO and BS both mentioned a potential link between Melanoma and BC.

ckk

 This may be of interest: the melanoma genome sequence has just been discovered, and the two cancers do share PREX2 gene. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature11071.html

I am a 12 year melanoma survivor. I am seeing a genetic specialist in a few months to discuss things.

Adey

My mom and myself have had both melanoma and bc.

GreenMonkey

I went for my 6 month skin cancer check and needed 4 biopsy's. One in particular, is highly suspicious for melanoma.... the other looks like a basal cell and I'm not sure about the other 2.   UGH.... playing the waiting game again. 

GreenMonkey

I had surgery on Tuesday. I ended up with two melanoma's and 3 basal cells. Now waiting for the staging results for the melanoma on my collar bone but it looks as though its "in situ" just as my DCIS and LCIS was.