Lentigo Maligna Melanoma.

Cce you poor thing. I saw you'd posted a day ago here so I felt you needed a reply.  It must be terrible for you, the worry of the unknown plus reading Dr Google. Excuse me for asking but how come it's your second WLE?   Have you tried contacting your skin specialist nurse who should be attached to the dermatologist? 

Mine have been incredibly supportive and they can chase appointments for you to speed up this part up for you so you can at least know what the next plan is.  It is such a horrible time, waiting for results and answers when your head goes round and round. I was only diagnosed in April this year so I'm kind of coasting along with immunotherapy and trying not to worry about the three month scan.        Stay away from the google sites too, you really just need to speak with the docs.x

Hi Cce and a very warm welcome to the online community

Having any form of diagnosis even if it's pre-cancerous can be very frightening. 

As you can see from this information from BAD (British Association of Dermatologists) lentigo maligna melanoma is one of the earliest stages of melanoma and is sometimes called pre-cancer as the cancer cells have not had the opportunity to spread anywhere else in the body. I am hoping that this will reassure you that it really has been caught at the very earliest stage.

Although Google can be an excellent source of information it can also be full of horror stories which are often false so please try to avoid looking for information on lentigo maligna melanoma there. It is far better to either ask questions here in this group, as there are plenty of people who have had the same as you and who will be willing to share their experiences, or speak to your SCNS (skin cancer nurse specialist) if you were assigned one.

x

Thank you so much for your Kind supportive reply. I had a 5cm WLE then had to have another 4cm taken on my wrist. I thought I had a large age spot I'm 65 it was tan coloured flat and did not bother me, had it for about 4years, went to my doctor with a strange spot on my shoulder, he referred me to a dermatologist. It was a Basil cell carcinoma and the dermatologist thankfully noticed the mark on my wrist. I received my results by letter. Waiting for an appointment back at dermatology. Tried to speak to someone today but they were too busy with clinics. Should hopefully get a call in a day or two.

Sorry to hear you needed immunotherapy, and pray you get the best results from it. Xx

Thank you for your support and information,  I haven't been given very much detailed information about my Pentagon malignant melanoma, my results came in a brief letter. The only thing was pre-malignant changes were seen extending to the margin, waiting to hear back from dermatology with a new appointment. I did try phoning but they were too busy with clinics, hoping to get a call in a couple of days. I'll stay away from google!  Thanks again xx

Supposed to be lentigo malignant melanoma

That's not good that you weren't given much information about lentigo malignant melanoma when you were diagnosed Cce. If you click on the link in my message above it'll take you to the leaflet that most dermatologists would give out following that diagnosis. Hopefully it'll help answer some questions you might have and address your worries.

Let us know how you get on when you see your dermatologist.

x

Hi Cce,

I hope you've heard from your docs or from one of skin specialist nurses by now and been given some reassurance as to your diagnosis and plans for continuing care.  latchbrook is absolutely right when she says to avoid Google.  There seems to always be someone on here who has experienced the same as oneself whatever the diagnosis is and I think people are very careful to not just give answers to questions posed as people may have a similar diagnosis but different treatment/ surgeons/ doctors. We are all or have been in an extremely vulnerable place so caring support is vital too as well as practical info on the differing melanomas and treatments.

Take care x

Thank you for your kind support. I've heard from the hospital and have a appointment on Tuesday and I'm feeling much better now that I will be able to talk to a Doctor and hopefully get my questions answered.

No more Dr google for me! 

Hope you are doing well! Thanks again xx

Good, I'm glad you've got an appointment.  Make sure you think of all your questions now and write them down hon, it'll make the appointment easier on Tuesday...only two days to go. 

I'm ok thanks and plodding on. What else can I do?

My oncologist is very good and I have regular phone calls from them just checking in with me. Regular three monthly scans are due in December, fingers crossed they're still all clear and the Pembro is working. X

Hi,  just back from the dermatologist. I have stage A1 melanoma, with pre-cancer cells. They are reluctant to do more surgery as it would have a detrimental effect on my hand, so I have to decide whher to have Imiquimod cream to treat the pre-cancer cells. I will probably go with the cream as I'm an artist and also teach so need my right hand. They also took photographs of three areas and froz off a red mark on my tight  everything is ok. I have lots of reading material and a card with a nurse I can contact. Feeling a little calmer although I don't think I'll ever be the same again. Carole xx

Thank you for your support, it was very comforting.

Take care and hang in there. Xx