New Stage 1 Melanoma diagnosis

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Hi,

I actually can't believe I'm writing this, and I'm struggling with anxiety and accepting the diagnosis. I had a mole appear about 5 years ago that I went straight to my GP about who said it was all fine. I left it longer when it changed as I thought I'd already had it checked. I finally went back and was diagnosed and removed within 2 weeks which was brilliant. I'm waiting for Christie's now to contact me can anyone give me any indication as to how long this will be and also what tests are done to check lymph nodes and can this change the stage?

Sorry any help would be really appreciated as I'm struggling to deal with it and the waiting is hard.

Thanks x

latchbrook 24 days ago

Hi Josie123 and a very warm welcome to the group which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

I was diagnosed with Stage 2 melanoma nearly 9 years ago now so know how hard the waiting for results and treatment can be.

It's common to be offered a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) to check if the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes. This is performed at the same time as your wide local excision (WLE) will be. However, it depends how deep your melanoma is. If it's below a certain depth then this operation won't be done but your lymph nodes will be checked manually when you go for your follow-up skin checks.

I had to wait about 10 weeks between being diagnosed and seeing the surgeon who would be doing my WLE and SLNB. The operations were then done a couple of weeks later.

If you have a SLNB and cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes then yes, this will change your stage. However, try not to dwell on that as currently you're only stage 1, the melanoma has been removed, and hopefully the only other treatment you'll need is a WLE.

It would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and treatment to date 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"

Josie123 24 days ago in reply to latchbrook

Thanks for the reply, it's nice to know the procedures and timescales. I'll add the details to my profile.

latchbrook 24 days ago in reply to Josie123

If you want to know anything about the WLE and SLNB operation, I'm happy to share my experience with you.

"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"

Hev 24 days ago

Josie123 . I am in remission , I have had four melanomas . I had amunotherapy. It took a year . my last melanoma was a kilo and I was at a late stage . It took me a long time to get sorted as my dr sent me to Birmingham hospital . After tests they said they don’t do that treatment at that hospital . I was then sent to Bristol . They were fantastic at Birstol but Birmingham wouldn’t share the biopsy’s etc . I had to start again all scans repeated . I had therapy for a year and the one in my pelvis is stable . I had lymph node’s removed in my groin with the op .. previously I to the big one I had one one insitu and one stage one . I was monitored for a year . My son also has had a melanoma removed , he needed no treatment after He has regular checks but goes private .once I got to the right place my nhs treatment was good .

Josie123 23 days ago in reply to Hev

Thanks for the reply, its all new to me and been quite scary. I've learnt so much in the last few days which has really helped along with people's story's and experiences. Do you know which company your son has checks with ? I'm looking for somewhere for my children to have regular checks with as they are fair skinned too. It's amazing to hear how you've done. I've not read about amunotherapy but I'll cross that bridge if I need too x

Hev 23 days ago in reply to Josie123

My son has his through his health insurance with his job he is lucky but I had mine on nhs . Sometimes it’s no quicker a friend of mine inquired about private and the wait to see someone was longer . There should be a two week wait . Mine was cocked up by the dr . Who originally wanted to send me to the lipoma clinic then had a rethink and sent me to the wrong hospital . I was seen within two weeks even so . Let’s hope you won’t need immunotherapy . I was lucky when I had my last two melanomas immunotherapy had just came out the year before . Or there would have been no treatment for this cancer other than removal .i had the support of my husband then but he has since died of pancreatic cancer . I lost my sole mate almost 50 years of marriage missed it be three weeks . I miss him every minute of every day . Wishing you all the best . Keep in Touch Id like to know how you are doing

Hev 23 days ago in reply to Hev

The important thing is sunscreen . I also take vit D as I no longer sit in the sun if I do I am factored up I use 50

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