Hi Paddygirl

i have had just that done 3 weeks ago 

mine was squamous cell skin cancer on my left shin 

I was way down the waiting list at least 5 months to even be seen let alone diagnosed

so I went privately 

apt with dermatologist 

punch biopsy diagnosis of skin cancer 

could have gone back to the NHS but I just wanted it gone 

wide leg excision lower left leg

local anesthetic done by a plastic surgeon 

Donor skin taken from my thigh 

bandaged from hip to toe 

1 Week with my leg up lots of rest no walking on it except meals and the toilet 

bandaged changed 1 week later donor plaster left on that was a seaweed dressing 

another week resting 

then back for results 

and a dressing put on 

this is a large hole in my leg tumour was 1mm 

this goes 8mm down it looks awful but the skin graft has taken and I'm sure it will heal in time 

the cancer is gone I don't need any other treatment

he took good margins so I'm grateful 

Nothing I had done hurt and although I have discomfort 

it's ok 

donor site is fine 

any question feel free to ask 

i did too much after the second week the wound 

started to leak fluid and I end up back banaged for another week 

I am 70 and diabetic I'm fit slim and active 

ihad breast cancer 6 years ago 

I felt very angry when this skin cancer happened 

but you no choice other than to get on and deal with it 

nobody can do it for you but my partner is very supportive 

Joanie B 

Thank you so much for replying and I wish you the best of luck with everything.

It's the waiting game that's the worst. I just don't want to wait "12 weeks" again, i would appreciate it if it would be 2-3 weeks. I'm already having to wait nearly six weeks just to get the mole removed, after already waiting 12 weeks for the diagnosis..It just seems to be really slow, I'm imagining that the melanoma is spreading  while I'm waiting.  Sorry for the moan!

Thank you so much for your reply, and I'm glad you got through it okay!

The consultant did say my leg will look a mess.

Did you have it done under local anaesthetic?

How long were you told for recovery timescale? I'm worried about being signed off work for too long.

And you said you were bandaged up afterwards? Was it your whole leg?? 
 

Hi Paddygirl

ive just added a bit more to my reply 

whole leg bandage for the first week 

I would say it's going to take me at least another 4 weeks to be confident with the wound 

I'm washing it twice a day putting vasaline on it 

it's pink but gross but it's exactly as it should be at this stage 

I really wouldn't try to rush it as I did have another week of bandages because I'd done too much 

I am not a patient person !

I bought a wedge shape foot cushion which is brilliant 

it's now my go to accessory 

Local anesthetic 

hope you are ok 

love Joanie 

Hi Paddy girl, i would love it if you keep me updated on your progress, as you say waiting is the difficult part. I first went to my gP in early May because of changes in this little lump on the lower lid, it had doubled in size and sort od grew out sideways like a cluster of pearls. He said probably just a benign lump and nothing to worry about (deep down I was worried) I had an anual follow up appointment monitoring a tumour in my optice nerve, I had radiotherapy many years ago and it has essentially stabilised the tumour so checks every yeat. I mentioned the lump and using special slit lamps etc she referred me there and the to an oncologist on fast track, Told me she suspected BCC. a week later was with the oncologist who to photos using a special lens, took me straight round for a CT and then blood tests. My telephone follow up is this Tuesday but I think she was hoping all would be done by now but the anaethetist was oss with covid. He's now back so I have been slotted in for this friday. My time window would have perhaps been less if my gp had referred me to someone straight away but the way it panned out was probably better because instead of dermatology it was straight to an eye oncologist. I am sarting to get a little anxious about Friday but have lots of jobs lined up this week to keep me busy

xx

Thank you for the further information xx

it is really helpful. I wanted to know what the recovery time would be, and it seems it is not a quick fix.

I work from home which is lucky, so if I say 2 weeks to my employer, I think that would be okay.

How has the pain been? Is it manageable with paracetamol?

I am Norma very busy person, with working full time, and family life etc. How did you manage with having to rest all the time?

I think my OCD with the housework will be the worst bit! :-)

Hi Paddygirl

2 weeks May be a little ambitious 

depending on how deep the wound may be 

I'm normally busy and it's driving me crazy sitting around 

the cost of going private is not as bad as you might think 

I live in the north of England 

I referred myself and had to pay for the biopsy and consultation which I thought was expensive 

about £700 

then consultation with the plastic surgeon which was £150

then the op which was £2200 

this was for a day case at the hospital 

a full theatre team of about 7 ( bit scary )

the op the skin graft the excision 

the dressings the 4 follow up apts up to now 

the histology (2 Weeks for results )and report and a team to decide on what action to take 

the hospital do interest free payments 

I couldn't have had better care the surgeon rang me 4 times at home to see how I was doing 

and the cancer was gone 

if I had needed anything else I could go back to the nhs 

I feel let down by the nhs but having gone through one cancer I couldn't have had this hanging over me 

I get what you mean about the housework 

my partner has been doing the ironing most of my clothes now look like I've slept in them but he is trying 

all you can do is keep on to the hospital I checked  on the website of ours and it stated 48 weeks wait for dermatology ! 

I'm considering putting in a complaint but not sure if I have the energy 

I hope you get sorted out asap I lost half a stone with not eating waiting for this to be done 

put yourself first and take care 

love Joanie x 

Hi Paddygirl,

I'm afraid biopsy results are taking much longer than pre-Covid times due to a backlog at histology departments. It used to average 3 weeks, now it's averaging 6 weeks I'm afraid. Waiting times for a WLE etc used to be 2 weeks but some patients are waiting far longer, especially during the summer when staff are on holiday. Hopefully you won't be waiting too long.

I had my mole removed from the front of my shin in 1996. I was due a WLE and skin graft 2 weeks post results but the evening before surgery the surgeon decided it wasn't necessary as a large margin of tissue had been removed in the initial excision.. Unfortunately the melanoma returned 13 years later in my groin and pelvic nodes so I've been Stage 3 since 2009. 

I will send you a friend request and, if you accept it, I can then pm you with further information regarding skin grafts and recovery.

Good luck,

Angie