Hi all,
I had a mole (more of a smudge) removed just over three weeks ago and was called in to the hospital this week to discuss the results where it was confirmed it was a Stage 1A melanoma. They said its all been removed into the original excision but I need a WLE as a precaution in the coming months. They are planning to take an additional 5mm margin. The mole was on the lower half of my upper arm. The scar is healing quickly and a lot better than I envisaged! They've told me my next appointment will be with the vascular surgery department who are "helping out" at the moment to prep for the WLE. My current scar had nine stitches and is probably about 8-9cm long.
I asked at the appointment if it meant taking the additional 5mm from around the whole of the existing scar which was obviously longer and bigger than the mole as they cut the eye shape to close it. They said yes and it would be done under local. At the time I didn't think too much about it as I was actually relived at what they had told me after a very stressful week waiting for the appointment.
I know I could contact them to ask but just thought I'd pop in here first to ask people who have had it done. Do they cut the eye shape again around the additional 5mm bigger than the original scar so they can close it up well? If so I'm thinking it's actually going to be a fairly huge chunk cut out of my arm with a pretty long scar. Whilst it is what it is and obviously I feel very lucky at my diagnosis and prognosis I do better if I feel prepared going into things. There's been no talk of whether a skin graft will be required but I guess that will be confirmed either way at the next appointment which I'm not expecting for 2-3 months. I'm also self employed so trying to think and plan about handling work etc as they said I would need potentially 4 weeks off work. Should I be just expecting the same again but just a bit bigger than the original excision or preparing myself that actually this will be quite a bit bigger and more of a procedure. The top of my current scar is bording onto my bicep and there doesn't seen much loose skin around that point for them to cut more out and pull together?!
Hi KB5 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 don't know what shape is cut but yes, they do cut all around the original excision. My melanoma was a stage 2a so I had 2cm extra taken away. It left me with a very long scar but the skin is an amazing organ and now you can hardly see it. Mine was on my upper arm and I was advised to massage it with E45 a couple of times a day once the wound had healed. This certainly seems to have done the trick as it's barely visible now.
I didn't need a skin graft as the surgeon was confident that there was enough skin to be able to close the wound without one. However, he did say that if needed he'd have to do one. Thankfully, it wasn't needed.
I had already stopped working when I had mine so can't really say how long you're likely to need off work. I think a lot depends on what sort of work you do but I'd be guided by your hospital team.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
No, I don't have an indent from the WLE but I do have indents from other operations. I might be wrong but I don't think they ever fill out unfortunately.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi I had my WLE on the top of my foot 3 weeks ago but was shocking at the amount the removed and also had a skin graft. I’m just hoping the more they remove then there is a better chance that they h
e got it all. Still waiting on results
