Melanoma removed.

Pricilla 1 day ago

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So the dermatologist removed my melanomas this morning for more accurate staging. The biopsy suggested stage T2a and the doctor said fingers crossed it stays that way. I have 18 stitches on my shin. Which I’ve been told to be extremely careful with, she has also given me an antibiotic for 10 days. She said I will need a WLE and skin graph plus a SNB but for now at least the melanoma is gone. The stitches are due to be removed on 9th July and I’m due to go on holiday with my grandchildren on 10th. Dr said providing the wound heals well I should still go and enjoy the break then we can deal with what comes next when I return. I’m still struggling with this diagnosis and I’ve been in tears most days.

Has anyone else gone on holiday so soon after this procedure. Dr said I won’t get the WLE for 6 weeks I’m not sure whether or not to go and try for a little normality or to stay and push for the WLE earlier. I just feel absolutely incapable of making any decisions currently.

SilverAspen 23 hours ago

My staging was similar to yours, although I only had one melanoma on that site( my arm) and a dysplastic naevus on my thigh. I had WLE on both and an SLNB in my armpit. about 5 weeks later in December 2024

I can understand your anxiety absolutely. At that stage, all I wanted to do was have the results of the SLNB, to know whether or not It had spread. The waiting, both for the operation and for the results of that procedure are truly nerve racking. In my case, I was lucky in that there was no evidence of spread to the lymph nodes, and I’m currently on three monthly skin checks.

I don’t have any experience of going on holiday after the initial excision procedure. I actually had a holiday booked for just after the date I was first offered the initial excision. Because I had been told by the dermatologist that it was a basal cell carcinoma, I was advised to go on the holiday, wear plenty of sun factor 50+, enjoy myself. and have the procedure when I got back. Had I known it was a melanoma, I’m sure I would have abandoned the idea of the holiday, just to get the thing removed a month earlier. Your situation is different though, as your melanoma is now out of the way and you’re concerned about whether your stitches will have healed enough by then. If the doctor is happy for you to go, then I would be inclined to think that that is good advice. I think that anything that takes your mind off this situation is a good thing. I guess it depends on where you’re going as well. If you’re in this country, you still have access to healthcare etc. if there are any problems with the wound.

Also, I don’t know what waiting lists are like in your area, but I’m not sure that you will have much influence over when you get to your WLE. If you’ve been told six weeks, then that’s unlikely to change, so going on holiday in the meantime probably won’t affect that

Here’s hoping that the stitches heal in time and that you can enjoy some quality time with your family.

Pricilla 7 hours ago in reply to SilverAspen

Thank you, I think I am going to go and as you say hopefully it will try and take my mind of things, at least temporarily.

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