Caroline, I know exactly how you feel, especially with the time lapse between getting a GP appointment to refer you and the excisional biopsy of your melanoma. I personally have found the entire process very slow, so I understand your concerns. I too have a stage 1 Melanoma [1A] invasive. Original biopsy 11 October, 16 weeks after seeking help. My wide excisional procedure required is not until 3 January 2025. Like you, this worries me, well the entire situation worries me, with so many of us being diagnosed with cancer. I am pleased you have an appointment next week to discuss your treatment plan in more detail. Try to think about what you want to ask, I didn't do this, and am having to do this now. Have you seen your pathology report? Not sure if you were seen at a specific cancer hospital. Did they check your lymph nodes at your first consultation to begin the diagnosis journey? I asked to see my pathology report, and although I did not understand all of it, margins, numbers, clark level etc, what I did gleam from it, was a better understanding to ask more questions, invasive remarks, prompted questions I would not have thought of. I don't know about you, but I was so focused on the fact I had cancer and terrified of what I may be told, I couldn't think of questions to ask at the time, I was simply nodding and in shock. So please, before you go to see your consultant this week think about what you want to know, ask and IF it helps write them down. This is very frightening time which does not help us to be as clear headed as we would like. Keep me posted and all the very best to you. 

Hi SycamoreGold,

I'm sorry to hear that you too have had such an awfully long wait & have your WLE scheduled for 3rd January. Sadly, waiting times have got longer due to the Covid lockdown, a lack of dermatologists & histologists and the fact that more people are becoming aware of checking their skin & seeking medical help than there ever used to be. 

A SLNB is not offered to Stage 1a patients as research shows the chance of melanoma spreading with such a thin melanoma is minimal (about 1-2%) - they weighed up the invasive procedure (GA, dye & side effects possible from removal of lymph nodes) against the possibility of it having spread to be counterproductive to putting the patient through it. I know that many, like yourself, would prefer to at least have the option but I'm afraid that's the thinking behind it.

As with Caroline, please contact me if I can help answer any questions etc & good luck with your WLE. Please let us know how you get on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Hi SycamoreGold,

I'm sorry to hear that you too have had such an awfully long wait & have your WLE scheduled for 3rd January. Sadly, waiting times have got longer due to the Covid lockdown, a lack of dermatologists & histologists and the fact that more people are becoming aware of checking their skin & seeking medical help than there ever used to be. 

A SLNB is not offered to Stage 1a patients as research shows the chance of melanoma spreading with such a thin melanoma is minimal (about 1-2%) - they weighed up the invasive procedure (GA, dye & side effects possible from removal of lymph nodes) against the possibility of it having spread to be counterproductive to putting the patient through it. I know that many, like yourself, would prefer to at least have the option but I'm afraid that's the thinking behind it.

As with Caroline, please contact me if I can help answer any questions etc & good luck with your WLE. Please let us know how you get on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)