Just found out I have stage 1b melanoma and feel a bit overwhelmed but guilty for feeling overwhelmed .

I am off to the surgeons tomorrow.  Have been diagnosed with upper right arm nodular melanoma.  Been told by my dermatologist to expect a WLE and a SLNB.  Am just so scared, however reading your journey and others has started it all up again.  What was the op and recovery like?  

Hi Jennie, I can understand your apprehension but you will be just fine and one step closer to getting your treatment completed. Recovery is ok, I personally suffered no pain at all after the op. Just remember to take it easy after the op and you'll be surprised just how quickly things return back to normal. My op was 28th Sept and I now have full mobility and back to normal activities and making sure I use my bio oil on both my operation sites twice a day. Just look upon it as another journey of discovery that will help you going forward. Keep a positive attitude.

Hi I had the WLE and SLNB in April 2022 after I had a 1b on my thigh. So it was a lymph node in my groin that was taken out. Like you I really didn’t want the SLNB at first as they sent me a large pack of info about lymphodema. I like gardening, mozzies love me, and I am a caterer so cuts and burns go with the job. The pack said be careful of all these! I spoke to the plastic surgeon who did my op and he reassured me if only one node was taken it was a very low risk. I went ahead as I am a bit of a worrier (understatement!) and I know if I didn’t have it I would be thinking it was somewhere else for evermore. The op itself was fine I was awake for it I elected to have like an epidural. Didn’t feel a thing. It was a bit painful straight after but they gave me painkillers. I had a WLE just above my knee which is a wiggly line about 6 inches long. I just took it easy for two weeks after stairs were a bit harder than usual. It’s hard for me to do nothing but as soon as my groin hurt I rested. I had no pain from the WLE. I did take 2 months off as I am on my feet for 7 hours. Now I can do everything I did before including running. And I’m 62! I have a little bit of skin I can’t really feel if I scratch it it’s an odd feeling! But my results came back clear thankfully. 
it is hard that some people don’t quite understand. They hear skin cancer and they say oh they just cut that out. They don’t understand melanoma. Some were shocked when they saw my scar. I think some people maybe don’t want to upset you if they freak out I don’t know. I did keep some of my worries from my husband and son I don’t think they knew how bloody scared I was(and still am tbh, any little niggle I get I worry it’s come back somewhere else but like I said, that’s me). It doesn’t rule my life like it did at first and yes it’s a pain covering up and getting sweaty in the summer but I’m alive and I was very lucky it hadn’t spread. 
Good luck it’s a lot to take in and your mind will be in a whirl I found being in work where it’s manic definately helped. Some days I had to drag myself in and go and hide that’s normal. I was ok until someone said have you heard from the hospital yet! 
good luck xx

Thank you so much for replying and giving a real sense of your diagnosis journey.  You described some of the emotions I have been feeling and it helps to feel we are not alone and they it is okay to have wobbles, concerns and worries.   I’m so glad you have come through the other side and your recovery sounds positive.  Sending a virtual hug xx

Hi I am new to this site as my brother was in the same position 6 years ago and wished he had asked for the lymph node test as he wouldn’t be in the position he is now. He removed a mole 6 years ago grade 1b . He was diagnosed with advanced melanoma 3.5 years ago and had major surgery to remove diseased nodes from under his arm, he went in had immunotherapy which he only tolerated 4 cycles out of 6 due to extreme colitis from the treatment. He had radiotherapy 12 months later as disease returned in neck lymph node and bowel cancer because of the colitis. He now has melanoma in chest, spleen and liver and has started target therapy and is 58 years old. Never smoked or abused his body snd never liked the sun. I don’t mean to be a scary monkey but I would definitely  have the lymph node test and I feel it should be mandatory hope this helps and not make you feel worse. Like I said if he had of had the lymph node test he would still be ok now

Hi Doli 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 opted to have the SLNB and don't regret having it done. However, although you've said

Doli said:

Like I said if he had of had the lymph node test he would still be ok now

unfortunately it isn't quite as simple as that. The SLNB can only see if you have melanoma in your sentinel lymph node at the time of the biopsy. Unfortunately, melanoma is sneaky and can come back months or even years later even if you have a clear SLNB. The SLNB  can cause problems like lymphoedema and some people, either because of their profession or hobbies, decide they'd rather not risk this possibility.

I hope the targeted treatment works well for your brother.

((hugs))

Am due to have my wle and slnb next tuesday, would not have it any other way, could not even contemplate not having an slnb as I have an aggressive mitoses report.  Have read online that melanomas can grow in as little as 6 weeks.  As a matter of form, what sort of cancer does your brother have, know that after this treatment I am going to have to be very vigilant, if you let your guard down for a moment these rotten melanomas will sneak in.  So worrying and it must be a terrible thung to have hanging over you.  Just need to get through the initial surgery!

Hi, I'm new on here and I so glad I've found it, I'm going through the same stage 1b had the mole removed no biopsy just taken out as the doctor said it looked suspicious. 1st October I had it removed and then the call from the doctor 5 weeks later "yes its come back as melanoma I'm happy it's been taken out but I need to see you and talk about what happens next" I was like what are you saying. Really took my breath away, it's a roller coaster of emotions kinda disbelief. I been to Addenbrookes had my first consultation with them and now have to wait for lymph nodes biopsy and the WLE. Just the waiting my head is all over the place. X

That was the same as me.  Had an excisional punch biopsy at my dermatologist.  Went there for sun spots, came away with stitches from the biopsy!  Went to the hospital last week, had a failed sentinel lymph node biopsy, did not find it and a Wle.  Right across my shoulder, every day that goes by it gets a little bit better.  Tomorrow am off for a PET scan since SLNP did not work, so am fasting, again!  Hope that they find nothing, am feeling positive!  Do so hope that you get yours sorted really quick.  Love jen

Hi jen, good luck for toady I'll keep everything crossed for you. Thankyou love Dawn