Waiting on results

Have follow up 3rd july

Hi , welcome to the online community, I just read your profile, it sounds like you’ve waited for 4 weeks already so I can fully understand how you’re not enjoying this waiting game. You said you have a follow up appointment on July 3rd, is that for your biopsy results, to look at how your wound is healing or both ? I haven’t had a mole removed (mine was an unknown primary) but when I had surgery to remove a lymph node I had follow up for the surgery a week later, then two weeks later my biopsy results. 

I know we all react differently I always want the uncertainty and waiting over and to get on with dealing with things or relaxing again. 

How are you doing? 

Hi ktathome

Nearly 6 weeks in and today I thought I'd be getting news either way. 2 hours of waiting at hospital and the results hadn't been uploaded. Turns out inconclusive and removed lesiom has been now sent to Warwick for specialists to check. It was a different consultant this time. They say a week and there are 3 people tracking them. Next appt 17th July one good thing the area is clean and scabbed now 

Hi , I’m sorry your wait hasn’t yet ended, that must be so frustrating for you, but reassuring that they are being careful. It sounds like they are reassuring you that they should get the results for your next appointment.

After 8 weeks I've had my results today.. Melignant melanoma of the webspace between toe. A further 2cm cut around the healed wound to have and a SLNB. The thickness was 1.6mm. Consultant us calling tomorrow with op dates trust me to have a Caribbean holiday due in 6 weeks. Feeling....lost

Hi

I'm very sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with melanoma. I was diagnosed just coming up to 3 years ago now but I remember only too well how shocked and numb I felt. I didn't know this forum existed then and didn't know anyone else in my position so it felt very lonely. Please come here as often as you need to ask questions or just to have a rant as we'll all understand.

The date for your further operation, called a wide local excision (WLE), and SLNB might not be until after your holiday but if not, tell your consultant about your holiday plans when he calls you tomorrow and he might be happy to postpone the ops until after your trip.

I had both the WLE and SLNB so if you want to ask any questions, fire away!

If you are still able to go away on holiday, don't forget to inform your travel insurers of your diagnosis.

Hopefully, you've been given information on how to stay safe in the sun but, if not, these are the guidelines:

1. Stay out of the sun during the strongest time of the day (11am to 3pm) between April and October inclusive in the UK and in all months of the year in any other part of the world
2. When going outside wear long sleeved tops and trousers/skirts made from natural fibres like cotton
3. Wear a broad brimmed hat (brim should be at least 3 inches) and sun glasses
4. Sit in the shade and never sunbathe 
5. Any part of your body that is not covered, ie face, neck, back of hands should have a sun protection cream of SPF 50 that is effective against both UVA and UVB rays
6. Re-apply the sunscreen as directed on the bottle
7. Never use sunbeds
8. Don't use sunscreen instead of covering up

Unfortunately, if you've had any type of skin cancer you're more at risk of getting another if you don't protect your skin from the sun. This doesn't mean that you have to stop doing things you used to enjoy doing in the sun, unless that was sunbathing, but you need to change some things to protect yourself.

The first summer after I was diagnosed was particularly hard as I used to enjoy sitting in the sun. However, I quickly got used to the new regime and have a selection of hats to choose from when I go out. I also decided that I now needed a whole new wardrobe so went on a shopping spree. So, every cloud has a silver lining!

I leave a hat permanently in the car so if I forget to take one with me I know I'll have one. Leaving a tube of sunscreen in the glove compartment is a good idea too.

Last year I went to Australia to visit my sister and I still went on the beach and swam in the sea. However, instead of sitting in the sun, I stayed in the shade and I only went in the sea for a short time. 

The first summer after I was diagnosed I found myself crossing the street to walk in the shade but last year I vowed I was going to stop being quite so paranoid in the sun and to stop acting like a vampire!

Keep talking to us and you will get through this

x

Thank you for your kind words.

I've never been a sun worshipper as I'm fair it's always been factor 50. Baffled as to how it's between my webspace of two toes. I'm a milk bottle. We do like our holidays though :) 

I shall be asking doc tomorrow some more questions and I did tell her we had a holiday booked.

Will update more tomorrow x