Superficial Melanoma and work

Hi Grinch,

I think that everyone handles this unwanted and surprising diagnosis differently. I don't think that there is a right or wrong way, as each of us processes this information differently in order to best cope with our own worries or expectations.

 I can only speak for myself when I tell you of my journey. After my initial diagnosis I was sent for the SNLB/WLE. It was outpatient surgery on my shoulder and armpit area after which I missed a single day of work to recover. I was diagnosed Stage 3 and immediately began the immunotherapy regimen. I never missed a day of work or any family events during my treatment. I understand that I was more fortunate than some as my side effects consisted mainly of colitis and very itchy skin. Both were uncomfortable but not debilitating. I made a self-determination early in my treatment to trust the process of treatment and stay as positive as possible, especially around my loved ones. Not to say that I did not have bad and doubtful days, because I surely did.

Now almost 3 years removed from treatment and diagnosed as cancer free and full remission.

I wish you the best with your journey. There are so many success stories in the most recent 5 years or so with newer immunotherapy treatment techniques and I hope that you don't get hung up on old and outdated statistics.

Take care,

Dave

Good morning Dave.

Thank you for sharing your story it is very inspiring to hear, and you are making great progress now and for many many years to come.

I am now sat behind my desk again trying to sell insulation to building contractors, builders merchants etc.

On a lot of my post I have done I have had really helpful replies back off Latchbrook, Pip93 etc..

I know this might seem crazy and I probably get on everybody's nerves but with me being the way I am it all just seems to fall on deaf ears because I am so wrapped up in focusing on dying very soon and having top leave my family, and even with all the lovely inspiring replies I don't see any positives even with all the help I get from these posts.

My wife and me went to have a bit of lunch yesterday and I felt a bit more up beat, but in the evening I went 100% the other way, just sat there looking at my phone thinking I will be dying soon.

I just would like think that Melanoma is not the death sentence it use to be and there is hope for me and the thousand's like me out there that are going through this horrible horrible experience.

Next week my wife, me and our middle son are in a lovely part of North Wales, I am just hoping that thinking about this will not put a damper on the holiday not just for me, but my wife as well, I just need to find a way to think positively like my wife would if she was in this situation.  

Thank you for your story Dave, i will try and take it on board, I really will.

I wish you all the very best for the future.

Thank you Dave.

Take care.

Simon

Simon, 

I think there are lots of positive stories and good advice for you here.  My melanoma was 5mm+ and ulcerated when it was removed three years ago. It’s definitely not all plain sailing but it’s also definitely not a death sentence. 

Personally I find staying as active and engaged as possible by far the best way to stay positive and well.  Focussing on the negative side would just stop me enjoying life…. good luck !   

Hi KHH.

Yes I am working in between replying to these post I promise.

Another very inspiring story.

I am so glad you are your are having a positive outcome and are doing so well.

All I seem to do is focus on the negative side all the time, and i know it is no good for my mental health at all and also not good my wife and our boys who i love to the moon and back. 

Thank you KHH.

Take care.

Simon.

Hi Simon,

I hope you're feeling a bit better today. I've been going through old forums on here to find good news stories for my mum and compile them in a word document - found so, so many, it's amazing - but I thought I'd let you know I found someone who might comfort you.

A lady on here had a superficial melanoma of 4.7mm depth and it was ulcerated. She was very anxious and had a lot of tests to make sure it hadn't spread anywhere... but her results came back all clear. She's still clear now. Her melanoma hadn't spread, even though it was thick AND ulcerated.

Obviously, no one can promise that your melanoma hasn't spread, but I hope that gives you some peace of mine. There's definitely cause for hope x

Hi Pip

Really nice to hear from you.

Hope you are keeping well.

It is another really really good outcome and does give hope, touch wood for everyone.

I could not believe though that it is a month before I go to the the plastic surgeon for a consultation, i thought everything like would take approx 2 weeks at the most, it brought me down to earth with a bump.

All I could / can think was in a month, if it hadn't already spread to the lymph nodes it has another month to reach them.

Hope things go well with you and your mum.

Thank you Pip

Take care 

Simon x

The wait times are pretty normal as there are waiting lists and unfortunately many others in the system going through the same thing. They do ask you to report any changes along the way and they can accelerate if something concerning happens in way of change of symptoms. To give you an idea of timeframes My initial derm appt was may 2022 where they said they were concerned. In June they removed it and it was about end of July where they confirmed the results and told me I needed SLNB and WLE. I had an appt with the plastic surgeon around end of August and my SLNB and WLE were done at the start of October. It was them about 6 weeks for results and got those mid/late November. So all in it was about 6 months and then just observation after that for me.

The waiting was the hardest part for me. 

Hi Ldg559.

Thank you for your reply.

That is a long wait isn't it.

When you say changes in symptoms, what would I be looking for.

My melanoma was in my upper right thigh.

Where I had my biopsy, it is still sore around that area and round the back sometimes.

Thank you.

Simon.

They always described it as “new symptoms that concern you” and it was always a bit wooly.. one thing to be mindful of is the mind plays tricks when you are worried with feelings etc. however having had 5 or 6 checks through and after the process I now understand it to be the checks they do there, ie swollen lymph nodes, new concerning lesions and/or re growth of the original lesion. Something the surgeon that did my WLE/slnb told me to keep an eye for is lots of black dots appearing at or around the original site or a noticeable lump in my WLE scar (I had a skin graft so it’s a big circle about 2.5 inches in diameter). The other thing I was also told is to take some photos of your skin for comparison each time you check. I am a very moley person and I have many that are irregular shaped, but not concerning so it’s real hard to keep track on whether there are changes or not

To note with the lymph nodes, it would usually be those nearest to the problem mole. In my case, mine was on my left shin, just above my ankle so it would the lymph nodes in my groin, though they do check all of them routinely along the way. 

Thank you again.

Not had a skin graft as yet, just where I had my 1st biopsy on 12 September, so just keep an eye on that ?

Plastic surgeon appointment on 9th November to see the consultant.

With mine being on my thigh would that also be the lymph nodes in the groin ?

Also, I would not have any idea what a swollen lymph nodes feel like / look like or where to actually feel.

Nobody has checked any of my Lymph nodes at anytime.

I go away next week, only to North Wales, should I ask a doctor to check them before I go.

Thank you.

Simon.