Hi I’m rangers
i was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer stage a year and a half ago it was on my left arm round the back of my arm my daughter noticed took a photo I looked at it and went straight to my doctor then it all started from there??… went to hospital went through my biopsy then waited eight weeks for results??… it came back melanoma skin cancer stage 2 then later in August I went through my operation the cancer was under my left arm pit in my limb nodes they got taken out and round the scare of where the biopsy was done they where cancer remaining round the area so they took that all away and I was left with an L shaped scare and a scare under my arm pit??… I’ve got to wear an arm sleeve now for the rest of my life to help get rid of infections so my arm won’t swell or won’t get septus??…
then the aftermath no feeling in my left hand when I lift a cup or cook my daughter has taken over the cooking so I won’t get burned but anything I hold it just slips out my hand so this is the aftermath to deal with there’s no counselling to help nothing??…
Hi Rangers and a very warm welcome to the group which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
I had a very similar diagnosis 8 years ago when it was discovered that a small lump on the back of my left arm was, in fact, a Stage 2a melanoma. It was 6 weeks for me between having the excision biopsy and getting my results.
I then had a follow up operation, called a wide local excision (WLE), to remove an area all around the original melanoma site, along with a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). I think from your post, these are the operations that you also had. Am I right in thinking that no further cancer cells were found in the skin and lymph node removed?
Like you I was left with very noticeable scars on the back of my arm and in my armpit, but I followed the advice from my SCNS (skin cancer nurse specialist) to massage the scars with E45 and they are hardly visible now. Hopefully, yours will become a lot less visible over time.
I have to admit that I'm intrigued as to why you've been told that you need
to wear an arm sleeve now for the rest of my life to help get rid of infections
as that certainly wasn't something I've had to do and I'm not aware of anyone else in the group mentioning that before. I do know that some people have to wear a compression sleeve from time to time as part of managing and treating lymphoedema but not as a way to stop infections.
Have you told your SCNS or consultant that you have no feeling in your left hand as this isn't something that normally happens after having a WLE and SLNB? If not, that would be a good place to start so that they can support you.
As for counselling, again your SCNS may be able to direct you to local services or you could take a look through this information from Macmillan.
When you have a minute, it would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and treatment 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.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
