Needing a second WLE

Hi Jellybaby and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

I didn't need two WLEs but it does sometimes happen. NICE guidelines advise surgeons how wide an area to take away around where a melanoma was. As you will see from the link, an area of 1cm is advised for melanoma in situ (Stage 0) so unless the surgeon removed less than this then no the fact that you need a second excision or the use of Aldara, doesn't mean that it "wasn't done properly".

Let us know whether you're having a second WLE or Aldara

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Hi, new to this as I was only in my GP's for a chest infection! Took my shirt off and she was more interested in the black and red mole on my back, within 2days an appointment had been made for me to see the dermatologist, since then I have had a biopsy which was positive and a narrow excision, I now have to have a wider excision and to be totally honest I am scared that I am going to die sooner rather than later. Can anyone possibly enlighten me how the wider excision of 5cm takes to heal and is the skin graft area going to be painful? All this and on September 23rd I go in for a second brain surgery for epilepsy!!.

As far as above I would say that the surgeon is doing everything by the book making sure that you are getting the best opportunity to have the least surgery possible 

Hi Nickmine and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

When I had my WLE it was completely healed by the time I went back for my results two weeks later but I didn't need a skin graft so I can't comment on how long that area might take to heal.

It might be an idea to start your own post asking this question then as many people as possible will see it.

When you have a minute it would be great if you could pop something about about your diagnosis and treatment so far into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

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