Hi all.
Not been on here for quite a while.
Hope everyone is doing ok.
Just a couple of things on a letter I received on Saturday from the Cristie in Manchester that mean nothing to me.
It was quite a long letter to my docs from the Christie after having my meeting with the plastic surgeon consultant on the 9th November.
I got told at the start of all this that I had superficial spreading melanoma, pt3a, stage 2a, none ulcerated, Braf positive, fully excised with clear margins.
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These are some of the things said from the letter I received on Saturday that was sent to my doctor word for word as below :-
3.9mm beslow thickness melignant melanoma left medial thigh.
pT3a, Stage 2a with Lympho Vascular Invasion and mitotic rate 9mm2.
Completely excised 2.2mm peripheral margin and 4.1mm deep margin.
On examination there was a nicely healed scar on left medial thigh with no signs local or regional recurrence and no lymphadenopathy.
Plan including wide local excision with 2cm margin of the liaison to reduce the chance of the tumor recurrence a sentinel lymph node biopsy.
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A nice lady on a forum said that Lympho Vascular Invasion meant it had reached the blood vessels or lymph vessels, so if that is the case doesn't that mean that it hasn't actually been completely excised with clear margins as it is in the blood or lymph vessels.
I am just thinking, with it reaching the blood vessels or lymph vessels it is being carried to the lymph nodes i.e like a river carrying a boat, if you know what I mean.
I have no idea what a mitotic rate 9mm2 means.
Also have no idea lymphadenopathy means ?
Can somebody please shed some light on these for me.
I know I am clutching at straws, but thought I was in with a slim chance it may have not reached the lymph nodes.
Thank you all
Simon
Hi Simon
I can't help with what the expressions "Lympho Vascular Invasion and mitotic rate" mean as they weren't things that appeared on any medical documents I saw when I was diagnosed. You could post the question in the Ask a Nurse section of the online community or give your SCNS a call.
I've googled 'lymphadenopathy', and it means selling of your lymph nodes. So if your report says "no lymphadenopathy" that suggests that your lymph nodes weren't swollen when you saw whoever prepared the report.
Do you have a date yet for your WLE and SLNB?
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Yes, I'm good thanks.
That's good news re your ops, as you don't have long to wait now, and you should be feeling fine by Christmas.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi Latchbrook.
Good to hear you are ok.
Been told I can not drive for 2 to 3 weeks, not sure if that is the norm ?
I finish work on the 19th December for Xmas hols, so going to be a long break.
Would rather be in work though up the 19th, get bored at home.
Even though I feel quite a bit better about things I am still very anxious though 
Take care.
Simon x
I was told the same about driving and to only drive once I felt that I would be able perform an emergency stop without it causing any pain.
I can understand that you feel you'd rather be at work than bored at home but maybe you could look into starting a hobby which would both fill your time and take your mind off things.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
