Hi,

I can understand why you are feeling down. It's a pity you can't get hold of your nurse - do you have an email address for her (sometimes you can find them on the hospital website).

Meanwhile, you don't say if your melanoma was ulcerated. If it wasn't, the depth alone means you are Stage 2a. If it was ulcerated you are Stage 2b. This is all dependant on the result of your forthcoming WLE & SLNB. Stage 2 female patients have a 90% chance of having no further problem so, as long as your future procedures don't throw up any nasty surprises, you have good odds that it will be successfully treated.

My personal experience was Stage 1 in 1996. I was sadly in the 5% that it recurs - 13 years later it returned & I am now Stage 3. However, I have been 'no evidence of disease' (the melanoma equivalent of remission) for over 10 years so I've had bad luck & lots of good luck! Throughout that time treatments have been found that are showing great promise so a melanoma diagnosis isn't the disaster it was 20 years ago. I hope this helps.

Good luck with your surgery & please let us know how you get on,

Angie

Thank you so much for replying. Emailed my cancer nurse but she spends half her time in the lighthouse clinics and the other in meetings at hospitals feel I'm a burden on her. It was a PT3A????

dors anyone know what this means

Hi Molly......I'm so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I haven't had melanoma but my brother is currently undergoing immunotherapy treatment for it.

He had a mole on his back and after wide local excision and lymph node removal it was diagnosed as malignant melanoma. It showed up in one lymph node and was classed as stage 3c.

He started 12 months of immunotherapy with the drug Keytruda last May. At first it was given every 3 weeks but that changed to double the dose every 6 weeks.He's had regular CT scans throughout and all is well.  He's kept well throughout and been able to carry on as normal. He just has 2 more treatments to go now. We're all hopeful that this has been completely successful for him.

Wishing you well with your treatment........Irene

hi Irene. Thank you so much for your positive reply. How was the treatment given. Is it tablets or drip. I’m just in so much shock and everything at home with husband and son just carrying on as normal but my head is so stressed. I’ve got to wait 3 weeks to see the consultant before I have the node biopsy which although cancer patients are not effected his secretary said there was a long waiting list. Not sure if this means mine is not serious or they are just very busy. It worries me the cancer could spread during this time.??

i just don’t who to talk to or what to do. It’s all in their hands

molly