Hello
My 91 year old father has recently had a large tumour removed from his head. The results last week , Friday 23rd Oct 2026 confirmed it was a spindle cell melanoma. During this consultation I asked if the cancer was graded and I was told no. Treatment was talked about but first an MRI and a CT SCAN was required to see if the cancer had spread. Timeframes discussed were 6 weeks for scans and approximately 6 more weeks for results. We were told this type of cancer was not treated with chemotherapy but some type of tablet. We left the consultation, obviously quite shocked. The next day we got an appointment through, at the same clinic for 29th January 2027. On Monday 26th October I called the McMillan nurse, whose number I was given as a point of contact t. I left a message, but no reply. On Tuesday 30th October I called again and spoke to the nurse, who was present in the consultation with my father on Friday 23rd October. I explained we had received a clinic appointment for 29th January 2027 and said I thought that was a long time to wait to find out the results of my father’s 2 scans. The nurse explained that my fathers case was reviewed by the MDT team, and, because of his age, and the fact that his tumour was a grade 2B they would not offer treatment and only active surveillance, 3 monthly. I was astounded. I firstly addressed the fact that when I asked for the grading of my fathers tumour in clinic, I was told there was no grade. Secondly, I explained both he, the McMillan nurse, and the dr. spoke about possible treatment for my father, they spoke about treatment, not us. Can I caveat this note by saying we would strongly think about what, if any, treatment we would subject my 91 year old father too, but we did not, for one minute, know that treatment was off the table. I said I was never told my fathers case was going to be discussed by a team and a decision made about his treatment. I of course know that this is how treatment is planned for cancer patients as my husband has, unfortunately, experienced two different cancers that have both been managed. We then talked about my fathers 2 scans and there was confusion as to whether these were even going to be booked! The McMillan nurse said, again, because my father tumor was a grade 2b the scans were not urgent and he could not say how long they would be. I asked if he could arrange for them to be booked as soon as he could. He agreed.
Finally, is there any help you could give me as I am finding it very difficult to match a grade 2b melanoma with the severity of how my fathers Soindke Cell Melanoma was delivered to us in our consultation on Friday 23rd Oct 2026. There we were told it was an aggressive cancer with strong likelihood that it has spread, hence there plan of a mri and ct scan.
Thank you.
A very concerned and confused daughter.
