Back from the hospital post-op appointment. The nurse thought the healing was two weeks on, not just a week and that she would be taking stitches out today so it's all going well. The surgeon is very pleased with progress too. He is no longer worried by the medium-extensive bruising which he hadn't expected to happen but I've always been prone to bruise quite badly so we are both content that it's 'just the way I am'.
The nurse removed the catheter; aaahhh! that felt good despite a bit of an ache where it's been but I wasn't allowed home until I'd done a test pee LOL!
Clinic appointment with the nurse on March 6th to remove the stitches, only at the bottom of the wound since the others are dissolving stitches except where the nifty gel-glue stuff was used - and another with the surgeon on March 13th.
Quarterly follow-ups for 3 years then 6 monthly for another 2 years: visual/physical including copping a feel around the lymph node areas. If anything is found then a new treatment plan will be worked out.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: not needed as neither scans nor physical examination show any abnormalities + there is little evidence that it achieves much for melanoma patients since melanoma acts differently on every individual (nor is there any generic chemotherapy treatment proved to work for every melanoma patient) .
ENT referral because of a scar/whatever in my throat as well as the CTscan of neck/thorax because of 6/7 'nodes' in my lungs. The surgeon said this is a strong recommendation from a radiologist at the MDT who had done the review of all scans to date. I don't remember his telling me about them before but I do know I don't remember everything I'm told which is one of the reasons I'm tracking it here. Other radiologists did not think it was indicated but 'they all have different opinions'.
Referral to Professor Middleton because he is a world expert on melanoma NON-surgical treatment.
The surgeon told me I am having so many scans and referrals because of how thick the melanoma was (6.3mm); most melanomas are dealt with effectively by simple surgery. He also reminded me that the six weeks post-op wearing of anti-embolism nonsexy stockings is because the operation (which took 90 minutes) had to have my legs flexed which cuts off circulation. Six weeks is reckoned to be 50% of the healing process so I won't expect too much too soon.
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