Malignant melanoma

I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma at the end of Apr 25.  The consultant promised me at my consultation before the biopsy that if it was bad news he would tell me face to face.  Well this wasn’t the case and told me over the phone not even bothering to ask if I had anyone at home which I didn’t for a week. When saw me in clinic to discuss the next phase a couple of days later he was rude and offered me no paperwork about my condition or even a cancer nurse specialist.  I had to go to the local cancer research office and pick paperwork up.  After me chasing up on what the decision of the multi disciplinary team had come to I saw him again at the end of May, then finally at the end of June I finally had a wide local excision and skin graft, again he was rude to me.  Luckily he didn’t do the surgery.  I am still currently waiting on the results. I feel have had no support and think I should have at least had a nurse specialist to be able to speak to.  Should this have been the case.

Parents
  • Hi,

    I'm not a nurse but I've been a melanoma patient for many years. I wanted to answer your question for the moment as the nurses won't be back until tomorrow.

    A simple answer to your question is - YES - you should have been given the contact details of the nurse specialist so that you could ask them any questions or voice any concerns in between appointments. It sounds like the dermatology department at your hospital aren't being as communicative as they should be and you have been let down. 

    What Stage are you? I assume you are Stage 0 (insitu) or 1a as you haven't mentioned having had a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (offered to patients whose melanoma is deeper than 1mm). I'm wondering if this consultant is hurried & unhelpful to early stage patients or to everyone - he should treat all patients the same & take time to explain everything properly.

    When you receive your results perhaps suggest that you see a different consultant at your next check up. If you feel you want to take it further, consider contacting PALS (Patient Liaison) and voice your concerns. 

    I hope you aren't waiting too much longer for your results & they bring good news. Please let us know how you get on,

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009) 

    1. Hi Angie, thank you for your response.  I am stage 1.  I was referred to plastic by dermatology for the initial biopsy and the wide local excision because my lesion was on my ear.  I haven’t seen my dermatologist since my first appointment at the end of Jan 25. Everything has been done by plastics.  Hence probably why he was rude.  Not used to cancer patients.  I’m back with my dermatologist on Tuesday so I will ask her then.  Sarah
Reply
    1. Hi Angie, thank you for your response.  I am stage 1.  I was referred to plastic by dermatology for the initial biopsy and the wide local excision because my lesion was on my ear.  I haven’t seen my dermatologist since my first appointment at the end of Jan 25. Everything has been done by plastics.  Hence probably why he was rude.  Not used to cancer patients.  I’m back with my dermatologist on Tuesday so I will ask her then.  Sarah
Children