Superficial Melanoma and work

Hi Ldg559.

Please refer to this reply instead.

Only had a biopsy on 12th September, just stitches no skin graft,  so keep an eye on that ?

Appointment to see plastic surgeon consultant on 9th November.

Mine was on my inner thigh so would that also be lymph nodes In my groin.

I am worried even more now as nobody has every checked any of lymph nodes at all since my biopsy.

No idea what or where I am supposed to check or how they should feel either.

My armpits have been a bit sore throughout the day for about 3 to 4 weeks, I did try checking / pressing them, they didn't feel swollen, but then again not sure what I should be feeling etc, seemed to make them more sore the more I pressed at the time.

I go away for a week in Wales next week, should I get them checked by a doctor before I go ?

Thank you.

Simon.

Although you have not had a WLE yet, the principles would be the same. The WLE is just a larger version of the original removal which aims to increase the margins from where the leision was

It’s interesting you asked about the lymph nodes as I almost included something on that given I had the same thought at one point (ie how would I know if they are ok). Swollen lymph nodes would usually be pretty obvious from what I understand. One thing to be aware of is that even if lymph nodes are swollen, it’s not necessarily cancer, they swell for other reasons too like when your body is fighting off infection and the like. Also yes, if yours is on your thigh then the local lymph nodes will likely be in your groin, though they check this before they do the slnb with some dye and a scanner. Apparently the local lymph node can unexpectedly be elsewhere but usually not from what they told me at that scan.  

Something that may help, is that a few weeks after my slnb I felt 2 small lumps in my groin about the size of a pea that appeared and I was concerned. I had a checkup scheduled for a few days later anyway and they checked and he said it was nothing to worry about. He said it would feel a lot different to that and be a lot more obvious/noticeable.

Regarding the skin graft, there is no extra skin on the shin to close the wound. You may fare better than I did in that I would have thought there is more probability of having enough skin on the thigh to close the wound without a graft, so you may not need a graft at all. Your surgeon should be able to give you an idea on that when you speak to him/her in November. 

It’s interesting you say you have not had any checks before now. For me, the dermatologist that I saw originally had me strip off and  did a full skin check and checked my lymph nodes when she first saw the concerning mole. They also did the same when I went to my appointment where they confirmed the results of the biopsy and several more times since. Have they never felt your groin/round the top of your legs, under your arms and up the sides of your neck and under your jaw at any point? I know things can vary. As an example I was never assigned a SCNS at any point throughout

You can definitely tell when lymph nodes swell. Earlier this year, my mother had one swell in her armpit and it was easy to feel if you dug around a little bit (she was puffy at the time due to an operation). Personally, I've had swollen lymph nodes a few times due to infections (not cancer) including one in my neck that grew to the size of an olive. In my experience, they can twinge a little bit - I'm always aware of mine when they swell up, which they seem to pretty regularly since I had covid a few years ago. I think you would definitely notice x

Hi

My melanoma was on the inside of my left thigh.

In my case there was a chap who came in and check all over my skin but he checked quite quickly to be honest.

He said that he will get his colleague to take a look and it was the dermatologist and she just looked at my mole was at the time but she never re-checked my skin.

She said she was concerned and they will do the biopsy that morning.

Nobody checked any of my lymph nodes on any part of my body.

I am now worried that the soreness under my armpits are my lymph nodes it is mostly in my right armpit.

I also have never been assigned to a SCNS nurse.

That has made me very worried now as it does not look like they have done a proper job.

It could have spread to my lymph nodes in my armpits.

I go away on Saturday for a week as well.

Would you have any suggestions.

Thank you.

Simon.

Hi Pip93.

Goodness I hope you are right. 

I have had this sourness on and off  since they did my biopsy on my thigh on the 12th September.

Not blaming my biopsy.

I prodded a few times a couple of weeks ago and I could not feel anything swollen really but it did hurt to prod at them.

All I seemed to feel was all the bone etc in armpit with no swelling, but not sure what I was actually feeling for or what it's supposed to feel like.

I have just pressed hard again 5 mins ago on both armpits and they both feel sore to press, but would they be swollen at the back of the armpit, front of the armpit, bottom of the armpit, top of the armpit, as it does feel quite sore and hard at the back of the armpit 

Thank you Pip.

Simon x

They never told me to check for soreness, only an unusual lump. I’ve no idea if soreness would be relevant, however its unlikely to be related here given it’s your armpit rather thank your groin. I’m sure they’ve checked what they feel they should. It should also be noted, the reason we have slnb is to check whether cells have travelled from the primary site to them. Swelling or not, there is no way to check for that just by feeling them. Slnb is a biopsy.

Thank you ldg559.

I have just sent a message to my GP asking them to give me a call.

I will explain the soreness to my GP and see what he says / suggest.

Did they take time to check your skin as my check was checked pretty quickly, but then again I suppose it depends on how many moles you have, no idea how many are on my back anyway.

Thank you once again.

Simon.

When my lymph nodes swell they're not really sore. It's more like subtle twinges, like little prickles of pain - although I'm sure everyone's different. If you're poking your armpits, you'll definitely make them sore, so that might just be it.

When my mum's swelled, she didn't feel any soreness or pain at all UNTIL she found out it was swollen, then she had pain, so it was probably in her mind. I asked her just now how it felt, and she said imagine walking around with an egg under your armpit. Hope that helps. Also, mine have always been visibly swollen, so you can actually see them, not just feel them x

She could feel the lump in her armpit before she knew it was a swollen lymph node, by the way. So she could detect it, she just didn't feel pain.

No it’s pretty quick most of the time. I have a few they always seem to take a real quick look at with a dermascope but aside from that they are pretty efficient scanning for what they are interested in vs not and I have loads of moles all over.