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Melanoma

Millylogan
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Hi, 

My friend (who is now 68) had a flat mole on the back of her shoulder for a couple of years, she showed her doctor who told her to “keep an eye”.  Like me she is a mass of freckles, but this mole was larger than a five pence piece and very dark.  Just after this Christmas it stared to raise and there was a bit of a ‘bubble’ to one side of it.  Her GP had retired by now and her new GP was very concerned.  He arranged a derm appointment immediately - who made the diagnosis.  She has since seen a surgeon and following this, removal.  She also had a tiny mole taken from the top of her arm - nobody has suggested that this is melanoma though, just a “let’s get rid of that too” kind of approach.  She didn’t need a skin graft which is obviously a relief.  She gets the results from her biopsy on the 28th.  Her GP took bloods and these have come back okay.  I am beside myself and need to keep myself in check.  I lost my little girl to Neuroblastoma five years ago so I struggle with positivity and hope where cancer is concerned.  I just need to know how to support her and keep things positive.  Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

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    Hi Millylogan,

    It's good that she has a friend like you. 

    Hopefully her results will be clear but if not she will get good treatment. Sadly her bloods wouldn't show any cancer cells as melanoma tends to spread in the lymphatic system rather than the blood. Having said that, it's good that her GP checked it out anyway. As the mole appeared to be changing quite recently she is getting swift treatment so that's a positive in her favour. 

    All I can suggest is that you be there for her and research melanoma on this site and the Macmillan site, just in case the results are positive. Treatments have moved apace recently so don't despair. Good luck to your friend and please let us know how she gets on.

    Angie (melanoma patient)

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Hi there AngieT

    Many thanks for your response and apologies for my tardy reply.  This forum and my clunky old phone aren’t compatible :-))

    My friend saw a doctor nearly four weeks after her melanoma removal.  They have said she needs to have lymph node biopsy and full body scan.  She’s been given an appointment for the 11 April.  I’m utterly horrified by everything.  I’m speechless about the delays in her care We are all concerned about metastasis.  She’s not eating as she feels so sick with fear.  She was referred by her GP initially on the 9th January, so it will be over three months until full imaging and further biopsy.  I’m very calm around her but this simply cannot be right? Any advice from anyone re how I can jig things along would be greatly appreciated. 

    Msny thanks,  Lisa 

  • Offline in reply to Millylogan

    Hi Lisa,

    I'm sorry to hear that your friend has to wait so long for the next step but I'm afraid to say that this is becoming the norm. I've been a melanoma patient for 22 years &, because of more education amongst the public & GPs, more people are presenting their worrying moles & being referred to dermatology. Whilst the numbers of patients are increasing the number of dermatologists available are not keeping up. It appears that there are approximately 200 dermatology posts currently unfilled (I don't know if that is due to budget constraints or there are a lack of qualified doctors in the UK) and this has a knock on effect on waiting times.

    All this doesn't help your friend but is a small explaination as to the reason for delays between appointments. As regards her node biopsy & scan - this is routine if the melanoma was over 1mm in depth. I don't know the stats for how many node biopsies come back positive for melanoma but from personal, and friends experiences, more patients get clear results than get positive ones. It's naturally worrying to think that any delay may be causing the melanoma to metastasise - no one can answer whether that might happen or not - all I know is that my consultant told me that the 3 week wait for my metastised nodes to be removed would most probably not make a difference re further spread. 

    It's hard to hear this & I'm not excusing the system - it's just what we are faced with at the moment. Whether it will improve in the future, who knows. My only suggestions are - to ask her GP to see if she would get the procedure done any quicker at another hospital as the stress caused by the wait is making her ill. Which hospital is she under? Some are Centres of Melanoma Excellence so if she is at a small local hospital it may be worth trying to get her care transferred to the nearest centre depending on where she lives. If she could afford private treatment she may get seen a little quicker but it would be very expensive, unless she has private health insurance. My second suggestion to try and help her get through the anxious wait - see if she has a local Macmillan or Maggies Centre. They provide counselling and complimentary therapy such as massage which is really helpful.

    Best wishes,

    Angie

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