Lymph node removal Groin

Hi tracytanhillinn 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'm sorry to read that your dad's melanoma has spread which means that he needs a groin lymph node dissection. I haven't had this operation, but I noticed that your post hadn't had any replies yet.

I think what care your dad will receive from health professionals after he leaves hospital will depend on what protocols his health authority follows. He should have a skin cancer nurse specialist (SCNS), sometimes referred to as a keyworker, and they would be best placed to advise what, if any, after care he'll receive. They will also be able to advise how long he'll be in hospital for.

I've had a look in the group to see who else has had a groin lymph node dissection and found Daffodil59 and Rescueme have had this in the last year. I've 'tagged' them into my reply to you and hope they'll be able to pop on and share their experiences with you.

It would be great if you could pop something about your dad's 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.

x

Hi TracyT, I had my surgery just over a month ago. Despite the fact that my first ‘lump’ was removed fro my groin, the surgery I had a month ago was a left pelvic LN dissection.

The surgery was straightforward and due to the fact that it was robotic the x6 incisions were small. It was it was described to me (with 1/17 nodes found to have cancer cells). I was out of hospital within 24 hours and required minimal pain relief. The stitches dissolved themselves whilst there was not any post op nursing wound management required.

I was somewhat alarmed by the amount of swelling in my lower right abdomen in the days after the surgery to the extent that I contacted the surgical team. However, it resolved itself by the end of the first week. I was told that if necessary the local District Nurse team would assist. It might be worth giving them a ‘heads-up’ in advance. 
I have found my MacMillan nurse invaluable in terms of coordinating or accessing supports and info. She was very open to being able to be there for family too. 
My biggest worry was the risk of Lymphodaemia. I decided to be proactive on this and didn’t wait for it to happen. It might be worth contacting the local clinic run by Physiostherapists in the new year for an initial assessment and advice.

 From my experience, I’d say that because of the incisions in my abdominal muscles, for the first few days I struggled to find a straightforward way to get out of bed. I felt like a beached whale!! So, in those first few days post discharge it  will be particularly helpful for him to have your mother close by. The other bit of advice is to reinforce the guidance he will receive to avoid lifting and twisting and obviously to anticipate this in terms of his daily routines.

I know your father’s surgery might be different to my experience and not all of the above will be of relevance but I hope this helps a little.

Regards, ‘Samarang’

Will be thinking of you and your parents on Friday and hope that you’ve managed to get some help organised.