Hi Jelb,

I know this is a worrying time, especially waiting for surgery & results. Did they tell you the depth (measurement) of your melanoma or the Stage they think it might be? This information will determine if you will need any drug treatment after surgery. Did they discuss the next steps? All melanomas have further surgery - it's called a Wide Local Excision (WLE) - they remove a further margin of tissue from the area to ensure no stray cancer cell has lodged there. This is a larger excision than the first one so prepare for a larger wound. If the melanoma was deeper than 1mm they will also offer you a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) to see if any melanoma has travelled to the node(s) nearest the melanoma. This is done at the same time as the WLE. 

If all this hasn't already been discussed you will receive an appointment for a pre-op discussion. You will then receive an appointment for the WLE - it's usually as a day patient (or sometimes overnight). If a SLNB is also being done it may be an overnight stay. The results take a few weeks & it will give you a proper Stage and treatment plan. 

I wouldn't tell your children until you have the full information from the results of the WLE. You don't need to action the next step - they will contact you with an appointment date. If you haven't received a date by 2 weeks after your last appointment, give them a ring & ask where you are on the list. The average wait for a WLE is about 3 weeks - if it also needs a SLNB which will be a longer wait as a radiologist is also required & they are in short supply.

Try to distract yourself whilst waiting - keep busy and also try to find time to 'pamper' yourself - a massage, meditation, yoga etc will help to destress for a short time. There is every chance you've caught this early and it can be successfully treated. Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)