Hi,

I know how confusing and traumatic it can be when diagnosed with any form of cancer, especially when you feel OK in yourself. Can you give us a little more about your diagnosis so we can help answer your question? 

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Took main lump/tissue away, so going in for Deepcut on spot,and slnb as it's spread.

I've seen your Activity. I'm assuming you've been recently diagnosed and you are either Stage 1b or 2 if you are having a SLNB? You will have both the Wide Local Excision & Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy at the same time. I don't know if you have been given an appointment yet but there is a few weeks wait at most hospitals at the moment. Have the procedures been explained to you or have you been given no information at the moment? 

Yes they've been explained,  and they phoned to say it would be in next week or so.

That's good. Was it a mole or a lump and where was it? Most people with melanoma usually feel fine, it's only if it's Stage 3 or 4 that they may have symptoms. 

It was a small lump 2 years ago,then as it got bigger started to scab...then ended up looking like a purple grape on back...that's when they cut it out the root was 6.5

OK, so if the depth is over 4mm you are Stage 2c. If the SLNB shows that it has spread to a node, your staging will change to Stage 3. Either way, you will be offered adjuvant drug therapy which is given to help protect against a recurrence and further spread. They will test the tissue to see if you have the BRAF gene (50% of patients have this). Those who have the gene are BRAF positive and they have the choice of having targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Those without the BRAF gene are BRAF Negative and only have the option of immunotherapy as the targeted drugs don't work if you don't have the gene.

If melanoma has spread to your sentinel node, you may also be offered removal of all the other nodes in the area where your positive node is (this is called a node dissection or clearance). Some consultants don't do this unless really necessary as the drug treatment is better. The drug treatment only became available to Stage 2 patients last year and to Stage 3 patients in 2018 so I had the full node clearance in 2009.

It's a lot to take in, especially when you don't feel unwell. I will send you a friend request - if you accept it we can chat by private message and I can give you more information.

Hi I had a wle skin graft and slnb a few weeks ago. I was worried  about surgery but its was fine. I'm still recovering as mine was on side of foot was told last week that that I cant go back to work until fully healed which is about 6 more weeks. I'm waiting on slnb results which is worrying mine was 2mm breslow.

Thank you hope all goes well