Can grading change after WLE?

Hi MazBe and a very warm welcome to the group which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

When I had my WLE 8 years ago it was also described by my SCNS as a "belt and braces approach" and I must admit that it never crossed my mind that my stage might change. However, I was also having a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and knew that my staging could change if cancer cells were found in that biopsy.

I can't recall anyone in the group coming on to say that their staging had changed after having just a WLE but I have found this report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology which looked at 1332 WLE's and found that only 52, or 3.9%, had their staging changed after a WLE. It looked at people whose staging was between in situ and pT4. 

Although It's natural to worry I would think that statistically speaking your chance of being upstaged is very low.

Thank you - that’s reassuring 

Hi MazBe, I just wanted to wish you well with your WLE. I have been diagnosed the same pt1a and due my surgery 12th May. 
Mine is on my shoulder/back and am worried I’ll need a graft as the mole excision was hard to close. 
Also really anxious about all the uncertainty.

Try not to worry, ov been there , had all the same emotions xx no it's easy said than done, I ate mc ds all week. And put a but weight on, then they don't need to xxx so they can pull it together xxxx that's what I did xxxx don't worry thou , these Dr's r pros xxx

Hi, the worry and anxiety is hard to deal with isn’t it? Hopefully you won’t need a graft - I’m guessing that would be under general anaesthetic rather than a local which is how they’ve said they will do the WLE. How big a margin are they doing? Mine is 1cm so am expecting a fairly big scar. Wishing you all the best.

Hi MazBe, hope your WLE went well and you’re not in too much pain  

Where was your surgery, mine is on my left shoulder, not looking forward to the sleepless nights after the next surgery. Mine is due in 8 days and is also 1cm margin so expecting a large scar too.

The worry and anxiety is really hard to deal with, some days I feel ok and just think there’s no point worrying about it. Then other days I think what if I don’t notice if another one of my millions of moles, changes and I don’t notice quick enough and it spreads. 

Just wanted to message and see how it went and hope you’re doing as well as can be as just remembered your surgery was due a couple of days ago! 

best & healing wishes, RiRi.

Hi RiRi, thanks so much for your message, really kind of you to ask how it went.

WLE was on 1st May so I’m on day 4 now. It’s on my left upper chest, just below collar bone. It has been very sore and when I looked yesterday to check wound it’s much bigger than I expected - but looks neat and seems to be healing ok. The actual procedure was “better” then the first removal, I think mainly because both the doctor and nurse where clearly more experienced, and they acknowledged how anxious I was. First time round I felt that the doctor thought I was a bit of a drama queen!!

I’ll admit I’ve found the whole thing very hard, despite having great support from family and friends. The anxiety and worry is overwhelming sometimes isn’t it. Not helped by lack of sleep - I’m having to lay on my back at night which isn’t my normal position.

I really hope that your WLE goes as well as mine did and that we both get the all clear from biopsy results.

Take care

MazBe