Hi everyone I really am in a bad place mentally I’m 34 with 5 children and finding things so hard
went and had a mole checked didn’t think much then had the dreaded phone call it was melonoma she told me it was in situ and it was the best we could of hoped for said hospital will now contact me
after this I wound myself right up - started feeling unwell whole body hurts pains in leg panic attacks !
3 weeks later hospital which was a week ago and had a mole check and she told me I have no reason to be upset as it was caught early - briefly felt my neck and groin and said booking in for a wle as normal procedure and that’s it !
well my mental health and anxiety is now so bad ! I feel I have pains in my leg and feel it’s spread and why are they not checking its spread ! I can barely leave the house this has scared me so much !
my husband does not get it as he said they told you your fine so snap out of it !
before I noticed this mole I was healthy and the happiest I’ve ever been ! So also I recognise that pains and being run down is likely in my head
thank you x
Hi Fiona12 and a very warm welcome to the online community
I'm sorry to read that you're in a bad place mentally after you received a diagnosis of melanoma in situ. Any diagnosis is frightening and it's natural to assume that every ache and pain you feel means that the cancer is spreading. However, it sounds like your consultant didn't spend enough time explaining to you what melanoma in situ actually means and probably didn't give you this leaflet to read.
I'll give you the bullet points from the leaflet then you can read it all at your leisure. Basically melanoma in situ is the very earliest stage of melanoma and is called 'in situ' because the cancer cells are confined to the top layer of the skin so haven't had the chance to spread or grow. Some consultants call melanoma in situ 'pre-cancer'.
Melanoma in situ can be completely cured by having it removed, which you've already had done when the surgeon removed the mole to send off to biopsy. A wide local excision (WLE) is the only follow-up treatment you should need and this simply removes a small margin all around the area of the original excision to make absolutely sure that all the melanoma has been taken away.
After the WLE it isn't usual to have any further follow-ups as "people who have had a melanoma in situ have the same life expectancy as the general population."
All of this information, and a lot more, can be read in the leaflet I've linked you to.
I've had a WLE so if you want to know what this procedure involves I'm happy to share my experience with you.
I hope this helps you to understand why the consultant was not worried about your diagnosis, but I think they could do with a better bedside manner.
(((hugs)))
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi ID70 and welcome to the group
It's natural to feel anxious when something unexpected happens.
The community guidelines don't allow uploading of photos asking for a diagnosis as none of us are medical professionals, just cancer patients, so it would be completely wrong of us to try and offer a diagnosis.
The best thing to do would be to contact your SCNS and talk it through with her. If she feels that you need to see the consultant, she can make you an appointment for when you come back from your holiday.
In the meantime, try and relax and enjoy the rest of your time away.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi ID70
I'd love to give you reassurance that the pain and lump is nothing but, unfortunately, only a medical professional can do that.
I'm surprised that you haven't been given the contact details of a skin cancer nurse specialist (SCNS) but perhaps your hospital doesn't have any at the moment.
I'm even more surprised about the reaction of the dermatology clinic. Every time I see my consultant she reminds me that if I'm ever concerned about anything to give my SCNS a call and they will make an appointment for me to see the consultant within 2 weeks. As I've had a melanoma diagnosis I have been specifically told NOT to waste time seeing the GP for the whole referral process to start again but to immediately contact my SCNS.
If you don't have a SCNS then give your consultant's secretary a call to explain about your pain and lump and she should be able to sort out an appointment for you. I can only think you spoke to someone on the phone who doesn't know what the correct protocol is for an existing melanoma patient.
Let me know how you get on
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi Fiona12
How are you today? I'm hoping you've had chance to read the leaflet I sent you and are feeling a little bit more reassured.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi Fiona12
I'm glad that you found the leaflet helpful 
I doubt that there's anyone in this group, who's had a melanoma diagnosis, who hasn't worried that any ache or pain they now feel is related to the cancer. It's perfectly normal to worry like this but, if it's affecting you as badly as you're saying, it's important to get help from your GP.
You should find that as time goes by you'll recognise the aches and pains, that you wouldn't have given a thought to before your diagnosis, are just aches and pains and nothing to worry about.
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
