Hello Zo-zo and thanks for your post,

I am sorry to hear about your situation. I can understand how unsettling it can be to wait for results but unfortunately it is really only the doctors and the results from any biopsies taken that can confirm whether your lymph node is involved. Try not to use the internet as a guide as it is so general and does not reflect your situation. 

Hopefully you will know more today.

You are welcome to ring and chat this through with one of the helpline nurses. Our number is freephone 0808 800 4040 and the nurses are here Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm.

All the best,

Catherine

Oh thank you. I've been told today that I will need to go to hospital to see a surgeon. I have looked him up and he is best man for job so that's great. At this point in time can't say about possible spread but obviously my lymph node being hard since Jan is a serious sign. My Dr was lovely today bit when he talked about surgery I was just saying all I care about is my mortality. He couldn't give me a reassuring reply. Might be a possibility of immunotherapy after surgery and scans etc. Just now have to wait and hope my appointmentvis as soon as possible. Its a strange feeling. Its like a time bomb regarding the spread situation. I am quite numb to the diagnosis and all I seem to care about ATM is others and the impact this will have on them. I'm expecting first grandchild in July this year so this has come at a horrible time. 

Hi Zo-zo,

Try not to look at Dr Google - the information is old (lots of new advances in melanoma treatment these days) and it gives misleading information ie. melanoma can spread aggressively in a small number of people but take years in other people.

You sound to be under a good team on the mainland - I know of someone in Jersey that has been under the mainland for several years & are very happy with their care.

It's difficult when you are awaiting surgery & results & don't know the confirmed stage yet. All you can do is find ways to distract yourself to keep your sanity. Meanwhile, I've sent you a friend request. If you have any questions or would just like to chat, we can do so by private message after you've accepted my request.

I hope you get a quick date for your surgery and you are well on the way to recovery by the time you become a grandma. 

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Hi Zo-zo,

Try not to look at Dr Google - the information is old (lots of new advances in melanoma treatment these days) and it gives misleading information ie. melanoma can spread aggressively in a small number of people but take years in other people.

You sound to be under a good team on the mainland - I know of someone in Jersey that has been under the mainland for several years & are very happy with their care.

It's difficult when you are awaiting surgery & results & don't know the confirmed stage yet. All you can do is find ways to distract yourself to keep your sanity. Meanwhile, I've sent you a friend request. If you have any questions or would just like to chat, we can do so by private message after you've accepted my request.

I hope you get a quick date for your surgery and you are well on the way to recovery by the time you become a grandma. 

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Aww thank you for your reply. Maybe I shouldn't have googled so much as I have kinda convinced myself this is a death sentence.  Maybe when I have more info we can talk again. I'm glad to see you were diagnosed along time ago and still here to tell the tale bless you. 

Hi Zo-zo, as has been said please don't Google, too many half truths. I had what proved to be a melanoma removed from my forehead in June 22, in December 23 I noticed a swollen lymph node in my neck so although it had spread it hadn't exactly rushed! I had my lymph node surgery early Feb and still waiting for final results although I am due to sart immunotherapy in a couple of weeks

Good luck with thatvthen he good to continue to hear your story and yes my friends all tell me stop looking on Internet. I've got alot of info now so I will stop. I'm 55 by the way and had  a .5mm melanoma removed from my leg 7 years ago. 

CRUK and Macmillan is as far as I look now. I'm more than 20 years your senior and have had way more BCC's than I care to count dating back to the early 1980's. I did have a previous melanoma removed from my leg years ago but that was at a time when you were just told it had all been removed, no follow up or anything. It's so much better these days!

Thanks I'm feeling a bit more optimistic. I'm glad I put a message out in this site last night. 

Thanks. I had my CT scan results last week and not spread to brain nor body however it is in my lymph node. I really did expect this. Altho I was told by my Guernsey specialist on 4th April my surgery would probably be the following week or so alas here we are almost 1 month later. I have a telephone consultation with a surgeon tomorrow 3rd May. I pray my surgery will be soon. So far I've been pretty upbeat but this week it all seems to be getting to me a bit if I'm honest. I just need to get the operation and this lymph node OUT I feel like it's a ticking bomb.  I try not to Google but I understand that altho the growth was classed as T2 it will now be classed as stage 3 because of the spread to the closest node. 

I'm sorry to hear that there is now involvement in the lymph node. You are correct, it changes your staging to 3 now. Hopefully they will tell you tomorrow that your surgery will happen much sooner now. You will also be seen by an oncologist & offered adjuvant drug treatment for a period of time to help stop a recurrence or further spread. Good luck with tomorrow's phone call & please let us know how it goes.

Thank you for your words. Roll on tmrw when I get some more information. Do you have follow ups all the time to check on your situation.

At Stage 3 you will have regular follow ups & scans if you are on drug treatment. Once the treatment finishes (after 1 or 2 years depending on the type given) the checks will continue for a period up to 5 years from diagnosis (if it doesn't recur). I wasn't offered the drug treatment as it only became available to new Stage 3 patients in 2018 (I was diagnosed in 2009). Also, under the old system I continued to have annual check ups (should have been for 10 years post diagnosis but I continued until almost 12 years). So don't worry, you will be closely monitored.

Thank you. Are you doing OK now. Sometimes as soon as you hear the word cancer is feels like a death sentence. I must try to keep positive. Got lots to look forward to I am becoming a grannie in July  for the first time.