Newbie with melonoma

Hi Dragonlady70 and a very warm welcome to the melanoma group which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

It sounds like the surgery you're having is a wide local excision (WLE) and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Is this right? If so, I've had both ops so I'm happy to share my experiences with you. In my case I had the lymphoscintigraphy, which identified the location of the sentinel lymph node they wanted to biopsy, in the afternoon the day before my morning surgery.

It would be great if you could pop something about your diagnosis and treatment so far into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

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Hi. Great hearing from you. It sounds like my surgery is very similar, only difference mine is all being done on the same day. My site is upper right arm. Just wondering how long before you felt comfortable after surgery. Have read various things, which I suppose is the wrong thing to do. Will add something to my profile, thanks.

Hi , I also had WLE & SNLB on same day as the morning scan. This was a few days before Xmas.

All straightforward, 4 lymph nodes taken from my armpit  for biopsy etc. Swollen and uncomfortable for a few weeks ( and then leaking ) but not so bad.

Results came early February, clear for now so 4 monthly checks now, ongoing .

Good luck, it's good to talk !

Hi Dragonlady70 

I took paracetamol and ibuprofen for 2 days after surgery, as advised by my hospital team, but found I didn't need them after that.

The surgery sites were slightly sore for a while afterwards but by the time I went for my check-up and results, two weeks later, everything was comfortable and I had full mobility in my arm.

Hi. Many thanks for your response. I'm now booked in for the 2nd March, thankfully our local hospital, for ultrasound scan on my armpit, followed with a fine needle biopsy. Today I go to Exeter for pre op. Its all go.

Good to hear your experience. It's all go at the monent with various hospital visits.  Can't thank the NHS enough for the speed they are dealing with me. 

• Hi there I had my operation on November 4th 2022...I am a real coward,but I have to say my operation went really well....all my lymph nodes were removed and I had a drainage for a few weeks..I had to go to Morriston which is an hour and 30 minutes away. My recovery has been really good and I had my first round of immunotherapy and I am doing really well..stay positive and remember everyone on the forum is here to help :-)

Hi. Thanks for your comment. Had my pre op this week but they are unable to book a date as I have to go for an ultrasound scan and biopsy on my right armpit. Can't fault the service so far. Having had surgery in the past, I have no worries there. Just concerned I may be kept in, which is a big no no.