Hello all, i am new here so please excuse me if i dont make sense or ramble on.
Yesterday I was diagnosed with Nodular Melanoma. Currently it is Stage 1b which i took to be a positive. However after the consultant said i am to be referred to another hospital to see a plastic surgeon to discuss a sentinel node biopsy & wider excision. I feel so scared and i want to be positive but my head wont allow me to. I feel so guilty as i cant tell my parents who are both in their 80's as my mum isnt well & i think the shock may make her worse. Therefore i am keeping it quiet with only a few close friends and my husband/ daughter/son in law knowing. I could go on but for now this is probably enough. I just want to be more positive & not drift off into morbid thoughts, hopefully being a p[art of the community will help me with that 
Hi Tude 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 melanoma nearly 9 years ago now and had a wide local excision (WLE) and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Like you, I was scared at the prospect as I'd never had a general anaesthetic before or been operated on in hospital. However, for me, the procedure and recovery was much easier than I imagined so please don't be scared. I'm happy to share the procedures with you if you want to know more ahead of seeing the plastic surgeon.
It would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and proposed 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"
