Melanoma - WLE and SLNP

Hi Sue. I'm 75 years old and had a stage 1A melanoma removed from my left forearm via WLE, plus SLNP some 3 months ago now, also under general anaesthesia. I also needed skin flap plastic surgery. My consultant advised me to go for the SLNP, which seemed the right decision, and I'm pleased to say that the result was negative, although I could have done without the stressful 4 week wait for that information. I was quite shocked at the appearance of the skin flap surgery when the dressing was first removed, but was given some reassurance, and sure enough, three months on, the scar is much less prominent now. I'm surprised you husband wasn't told what stage the melanoma was, and I would most definitely ask for this information, as it has a bearing on what degree of surgery he can expect. My SLNP scar under my right arm was uncomfortable rather than painful, but I did experience quite a lot of pain with the skin flap, which was apparently due to nerves re-growing, so cocodamol for a few days, then just the occasional paracetamol. For me, and I guess for many others, the most stressful part of all this is the waiting game until you get a surgery/biopsy-based factual prognosis which draws a line under all the worrying speculation, and you finally know what you're dealing with. So do try to focus on the positives in that the problem has been identified and is being addressed. Hope all goes well, and that like me, your husband is given the all clear and joins those of us who are now on long-term 3-monthly checks. 

Hi Holly4 and a very warm welcome to the melanoma group which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

I had both a WLE and SLNB when I was diagnosed with melanoma and I'm happy to answer any questions your husband may have based on my experience.

My melanoma was also on my arm and, like your husband, the lymph nodes under my arm felt normal. I never thought to ask what stage I was and only found out afterwards once everything was done and dusted and I wanted to know more about my melanoma.

Your husband will have been offered a SLNB because his melanoma was at least 0.8mm deep. Mine was 1.45mm to give you context. The SLNB isn't treatment but, as I think you know, a staging tool to see if the melanoma cells have spread away from the primary site.

I was very apprehensive about the operations, as I had never had a general anaesthetic before, but one minute I was lying there thinking "this anaesthetic isn't working" and the next minute I was waking up on the recovery ward. Everyone was excellent and they'll answer any questions your husband might have at any stage of the procedure.

Give him all my best for Tuesday

x

Thank you so much for your reply.  That helped to make sense of why he was offered the SLNB. I have read your message to him and he thanks you!  X

Thank you so much for your reply 

Hi Sue.

I had a WLE and SLNB last year as a result of a melanoma diagnosis back in late 2020.

I think everyone gets nervous about the operations, however in my experience they proved to be relatively painless and even after the operations there was less pain than when the original lesion was removed from my scalp.

These operations are all about staging of the melanoma as per another reply.

I know it's easy to say, however please try to get your husband to relax as much as possible. It will all be over before he knows anything about it and as soon as the results are available a treatment pathway (if necessary) can be developed.

In my experience knowing the extent of the problem is a critical first step in moving forwards. 

Good luck to you both.

Thank you.  Yes the waiting is horrendous!  How long did you have to wait for results?  We feel as if our life is on hold.  X

Morning.  As far as I can recall it was about two weeks after the ops. It sounds like a long time, however I was seeing the dressings nurses every few days so it didn’t seem too long in reality - there was plenty going on!

I’m afraid waits are all part of the process - I have a three-monthly CT scan, and get the results of those after a couple of weeks. The way I look at it is: you’re “in the system” and getting the treatment you need.

I assume you have a nominated MacMillan nurse? In my experience, they are a great source of support and information and act as a conduit between the specialists (and their specialist language!) and the patient.  Well worth a chat or an email if you have a particular concern.

Good luck for tomorrow.

Thank you