Hi everyone,
Last week I was diagnosed with stage 1b nodular melanoma. I have been dealing with the news in waves of emotions. At first it was shock, and then I calmed down somewhat to look at the facts of my diagnosis. The consultant was great and encouraged me to be positive, saying that everything going forward is more precautionary ‘belt and braces’ than actual cancer treatment.
I have been referred to a specialist clinic and I am awaiting a date for a wide local excision and lymph node check. Hopefully within the next 4 weeks I’m told.
I’ll be honest, at times I feel quietly confident that nothing will be found and it’s been caught early. But every so often I’m filled with a growing terror and I have become to get quite anxious. This weekend I have not dealt well with the anxiety and at times I find myself thinking the worst.
I have come here for support as I feel that I need to speak to people who have been here and got through it. Any helpful words of encouragement or tips are appreciated! Thanks
Hi and a very warm welcome to the online community
I'm sorry to hear that you've just been diagnosed with melanoma. I remember only too well that feeling of shock on learning that what I thought was a harmless lesion was, in fact, melanoma.
Like you, I was referred on to a hospital and plastic surgeon who specialised in performing wide local excisions (WLE) and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). That was two and a half years ago now and I didn't need any further treatment. Hopefully you'll be the same and will just go on to 3 monthly check-ups for 3 years followed by 6 monthly check-ups for 2 years.
It's natural to fear the worst but you've come to the right place to ask questions and benefit from the experiences of others. I'd certainly caution the use of google to find information as a lot of information is out of date now as treatments have advanced.
If you want to pick my brains at all on what to expect with your WLE and SLNB please just ask.
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi ,
I was diagnosed as stage 1B in September and am hopefully due WLE and SLNB in the next few weeks too.
I don't have much advice at the moment but wanted to let you know that I'm going through the same thing.
If you need to chat I'm here! I'm also going through a bit of anxiety and worry too. Towards everyone else I say I'm fine and it'll all be ok but deep down I'm a bit terrified.
MH20 
