Malignant Melanoma

Less than one minute read time.

FormerMember

10 May 2010

Hi all,

I have just had a second wide excision and skin graft due to malignant melanoma. I have had clear results from my CT scan and it's all looking good. I will have the dressing removed on Wednesday after 2 weeks. Trouble is it looks horrendous to me. It is on my lower leg and looks like an open wound as the skin is so thin. You can see my leg muscle.

I feel so vulnerable without a dressing to protect it and every time I see it I get upset. I should be thanking my lucky stars and I feel so selfish when lots of you are going through much worse. I would love to hear other people's experiences and ways of coping. As I went through this all before 10 years ago you'd think I would be really well prepared not sitting here feeling sorry for mnyself!

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi Crowiedoll,

And welcome to the site. I'm afraid there's not much I can say to help you with regard to your self image. Sadly the treatment for melanoma can be quite mutilating, but as you know from before, it will get better with time. I know how distressing it can be having the results of your surgery on full view all the time. I was "lucky" my first surgery was on my lower back, so I couldn't see it, and could pretty much forget about it. The groin dissection I had subsequently is a little harder to ignore, and my days of wearing hotpants are long gone! Not such a bad thing really....

Good luck with the healing!

Marsha xx
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