Hi, 

sorry I don’t have an answer to your question but I am having a lymph node removed for biopsy under general anaesthetic on Monday, which I think is an excision biopsy? And I will be getting my results 11 days later am booked in for the 14th November to discuss. 

Mine have been put on urgent so I don’t know if that makes much difference? But am unsure if they call before if it’s cancer, I think that’s unlikely. 

But good luck and I hope you get good news, the waiting is awful isn’t it. 

X 

Thanks Sarah pink! 

Im not sure about your biopsy as it’s your lymph nodes. I hope all goes well with you! I just thought perhaps if it was cancerous they may get in touch with me sooner. The waiting is horrendous and I work myself up so much.

xx

Hi Beth,

I'm sorry you are awaiting biopsy results, especially having a family history of melanoma. I know it's a long time to wait when you are anxious but I'm afraid 4 weeks is the average time for excision results. They do sometimes call you with an earlier appointment but it depends how busy the histology department is. Try and distract yourself if possible - it's the only way you can make the time pass quicker.

I hope you get the results soon and they bring you good news.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)

Hi Sarahpink,

An excision biopsy is different to a node biopsy which tend to come back a bit quicker.

Good luck and I hope the results bring good news,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)

Thank you Angie!

ill just have to suck it up and wait! I’m sorry to see you have stage 3 melanoma. If you don’t mind me asking, following your diagnosis from biopsy...what happened next? I’m just trying to prepare myself for every possible eventuality. 

Thank you x

Hi Beth, 

My original diagnosis after biopsy was Stage 1 - that was 22 years ago. It was very thin (0.7mm deep) so I wasn't offered a Sentinel Node Biopsy - I just had a wider margin removed (a wide local excision WLE) & then 5 years of regular check ups. 

Unfortunately, 8 years after being discharged I found a lump in my groin. A fine needle biopsy found it was melanoma in a lymph node & I was then Stage 3. I had a full clearance of nodes from my groin & my pelvis where another node had a micro amount of melanoma.

Since then I have been on regular check ups - unfortunately I couldn't get on a drug trial but I'm still here, fighting fit & with no evidence of disease (NED - the melanoma version of remission).

Over the years medical research has moved apace - immunotherapy & targeted therapy are making a huge difference to living with this disease. One thing I will advise is - don't get hung up on statistics. Melanoma is a very unpredictable cancer - no two patients are the same. At Stage 1 there is only a 5% chance of it returning, usually within the first 2 years. I was in that 5% but it took 13 years to return! 50% of patients have the mutated Braf gene (Braf positive) which is supposed to be more aggressive. I'm Braf positive but mine took 13 years to return and hasn't returned in 9 years - hopefully it never will - so mine can't be that aggressive! The good thing about being Braf + is that targeted therapy is available along with immunotherapy. For those who are Braf negative (less aggressive) there is only immunotherapy as targeted doesn't work for them! So you see what a difficult job consultants have when asked if it might return!!

Sorry for all the details but, dependant on your results, I wanted to explain what may be discussed. Hopefully all this will be unnecessary if your results come back clear. Wishing you all the best,

Angie x

Aw bless you Angie! 

I appreciate you going into so much detail. I have no idea and have resisted googling anything.

Fingers crossed I’m worrying over nothing! But with the family history the odds don’t really seem to be stacked in my favour. 

Ive had a think and come to the conclusion that it’s pointless worrying as what will be will be!

im glad to hear you’re ok and I wish you all the health and happiness for the future!

Beth x

Hi Beth,

You are taking the right attitude, as there is nothing you can do if things do turn out to be untoweard.

You asked if you would get your results sooner if the results turn out to be cancerous. This doesn't usually happen. You get your results when you are told you will, whether the news is good or bad.

I sincerely hope that you get good news when you get your results.

Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you Jolamine!

i have a 3 year old daughter who is a dab hand at knowing when mummy’s upset! So worrying and walking around looking all glum isn’t an option. 

Thank you for comment and I will let you know how I get on!

Thank you again

Beth x

Hi Beth,

Waiting for results is one of the worst times of your cancer journey. Most of us find our emotions all over the place andwe cry at the drop of a hat. Tears are good for us as they reduce stress levels, so if this is you, let the tears flow.

I know what you mean about your daughter. My daughter was two and a half when her great-granny died. The two of them were very close. We didn't tell her until after the funeral was over. She still to this day, and she's now 40, tells me that she would rather have been told at the time. Little girls have a sixth sense when things are not right. They also have big ears, so it is better to tell her once you've got your diagnosis, rather than leaving her to overhear something.

I sincerely hope that you hear sooner rather than later. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx