Hi, my sister and i had been asking mum to go to the doctors with a changing mole which mum didn't really think much of it. In march 2020 mum contacted the doctor who referred her to a specialist. at the end of September mum had the mole removed and 10/12/20 got the results it is a malignant melanoma,( nodular melanoma) my mum has since had another removed from her back which we are still awaiting results. Tonight mum has found a large lump in her arm pit. Does the specialist tell you what stage it is ? sorry if this doesn't make much sense but i am so confused by it all.
Hi and welcome to the online community
I'm very sorry to read that your mum has recently been diagnosed with melanoma. I know what a worrying time this will be for you all as I remember what it was like to be told I had melanoma 4 years ago.
I wasn't told what stage my cancer was when I was first told that I had melanoma and, to be honest, it didn't even cross my mind. However, most people seem to be told by their consultant when they are told they have melanoma. The staging all depends on how deep your mum's melanoma was. This is called the Breslow thickness and you can read more about staging if you click here.
Your mum should have been assigned a SCNS (skin cancer nurse specialist) so, if she wants to know what her stage is, she could give her a call. She should also mention the lump that she has found in her armpit to her SCNS. When she went for her results she should have been told how to check her lymph nodes and to tell her SCNS straight away, rather than wait for her next appointment, if she feels any that are enlarged.
When you have a minute, it would be really useful if you could pop something about your mum's journeys so far into your profile as it really helps others when answering or looking for someone with a similar diagnosis. 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.
Do come back and let me know how your mum gets on when she speaks to her SCNS and I'm happy to share my experience of melanoma with you.
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi
I'm assuming that when your mum was told she had melanoma this was by letter or phone if tomorrow is her first appointment with her consultant.
Try not to worry about the amount of stitches your mum had as this isn't necessarily indicative of how deep the mole was. When I had my melanoma removed I only had external stitches but when I had something benign removed I had both internal and external stitches. I think a lot depends on who does the excision as to how many and what type of stitches you have.
Make sure your mum mentions the lump in her armpit to the consultant tomorrow and do come back and let me know how she gets on.
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi
How did your mum's appointment yesterday go?
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
