Diagnosis

So, after reading, it looks like my next step will be WLE (Wide Local Excision) to remove the cancer with an SNB (Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy)

Hi Gorhad and a very warm welcome to our corner of the online community but I'm sorry that you've had to join us.

I can see from your profile that you live in Florida so protocols for dealing with melanoma might be different there to the UK.

When you get diagnosed with melanoma in the UK a wide local excision (WLE) is the standard follow-up. Depending on the depth of the melanoma, either a 1cm or 2cm margin is taken all around the original site.

Again depending on how deep the melanoma is, we would also be offered a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). This isn't treatment but can indicate if the cancer cells have already spread to the lymph nodes or not.

I don't know what the further testing that your dermatologist has sent off for is for as here we go straight from excision biopsy to WLE and optional SLNB. The usual wait between finding out you have melanoma and having a WLE here can be anywhere between 4-12 weeks.

I've had both a WLE and SLNB so happy to talk you through what to expect there.

Anne

Thanks Ann

Gorhad said:

just

Had a call from dr office today results came back and they are able to do the procedure at the office

Im assuming they are going to do the Wide Local Excision 

Appointment is next  Monday

Any suggestions about questions I need to ask

Thanks

Hi Gorhad 

I think my questions would be:

• what 'procedure' are they suggesting should be done
• when will it be done
• are there likely to be any side effects
• if it is a wide local excision (WLE), will the stitches be dissolvable or will I need to have them removed
• how large an area will the WLE be
• how soon will I find out if clear margins were achieved
• how does the wound need to be cared for
• will I need to take time off work (if relevant)
• what Stage is the melanoma
• will I also need a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) to see if the melanoma has spread

I'm sure you'll have a few more of your own to add to this list!

Wishing you all the best