Anyone struggling with support since diagnosis, waiting to go hospital for WLE and lymph node to be taken for testing, got told I have melanoma after a biopsy in February, worried, scared!!
This is a really scary time and I really understand how you feel, as this was me last November.
Have you been given the name of a key worker/ MacMillan Nurse? I contacted mine straight away and she has been absolutely brilliant, reassuring me, helping me with information and liaising with the plastic surgical team, who are in a completely different hospital.
I had the SLNB and WLE at the very end of December and am happy to answer any questions you might have about the procedure.
I’m sure there are many others on this forum who can also offer advice.
Hey, yeah I have one but she's only contacted me once to tell me hospital will be needing further surgery, I'm just scared as its on my right temple, easily hidden by hair when grown but I'm self conscious anyways and this weighs on it more tho I know it needs doing!!, they mentioned the mole was 2a right now waiting for surgery, first appointment is i believe to tell me what could be happening and that's on the 10th of April but still, really worried, most of my family is down south
I’m glad to hear you have a keyworker. Remember, you can contact her. She probably doesn’t realise how anxious you feel and this is what she’s trained to do. Having a list of questions to ask is helpful.
My melanoma was on my right arm, so my experience of surgery was a bit different. However, the principles are the same. You’ve had a biopsy already, so did they completely remove the mole with clear margins? If so, then it can’t do any more damage. This next procedure is to make absolutely sure that there are no cancer cells still lurking in that area and the SLNB will confirm whether or not it has spread to the lymph nodes. I know it’s hard to deal with. I was lucky as there was no sign of spread, but waiting to find that out was agonising. If it has spread, then you will be given the best treatment possible to treat it.
Have you been given any leaflets to read or links to helpful websites? Melanoma Focus was recommended to me. Also, there is a forum similar to this on Cancer Research UK, where you might find someone else who has experienced the same as you. Hopefully, someone else on this forum who has had a WLE on their face will respond to your post and they can advise you regarding the effects of the surgery.
I’m glad you’re thinking of contacting your key worker. Phoning isn’t easy, if it makes you feel anxious, but just remember that she is there to be supportive, so be upfront about your feelings.
I would write down all the points you want to make and the questions that you’d like to ask. It’s possible that she won’t be able to answer the phone straight away and might have to ring you back, so make sure the piece of paper is handy! She should have access to your medical notes so can answer any questions you have about treatment, etc.
When I went to the hospital to meet with the plastic surgeon, my key worker was there in the clinic, and it felt really good to have somebody there who knew all about me and my concerns. Also, after the appointment, I thought of all sorts of new questions and it was helpful to know that I could just ring her up and ask her. If she didn’t know the answer, she went back to the surgeon and found out what I needed to know.
Hope you manage to make contact with yours. She should be able to help you to manage your anxiety, which is the most important thing at the moment. You can’t do much to influence the outcome of all this, but looking after yourself will help.
