I had an appointment with the plastic surgeon last week who is going to do my WLE and SNLB and was quite shocked when she told me that I would be on the waiting list and it wouldn’t be until at least August when I would have surgery.
I do feel that it’s a very long time to be waiting. The only reassuring thing is that my recent CT scan was clear.
Currently, after first excision I am stage2b nodular melanoma with Breslow depth of 5.4.
I know that all I can do is keep busy and positive but there are moments when I just want to cry!
Hi Sewfun and a very warm welcome to our corner of the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
I’m Anne, one of the Community Champions here on the Online Community, and I was diagnosed with melanoma Stage 2a 10 years ago. Like you I had a WLE and SLNB and it was about 10 weeks between being given my diagnosis and having these operations.
It's great that your CT scan is clear but natural to worry about the length of time between diagnosis and the WLE. I felt reassured when my SCNS explained that the WLE was just a "belt and braces approach" to make sure there were no cancer cells left behind as the melanoma had already been removed.
It would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and treatment into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
You're right that the best thing to do is to keep busy and try to focus on the fact that the melanoma has been removed. However, I know that can be easier said than done.
Always around for a chat.
((hugs))
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Yes, waiting is definitely horrible. I'm currently waiting for the results of my yearly mammogram, having been treated for breast cancer a few years ago. I try to remember what a good friend once said to me and that's "worrying won't change the outcome but it will ruin the present".
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
