I’ve been diagnosed today with malignant melanoma on my forehead and head I am waiting for surgery what can I expect and maybe further treatment after surgery feeling worried
OK. The removal of the mole/lesion is so that it can be biopsied by Histology. The results of the biopsy will diagnose whether it's melanoma, benign or dysplastic (precancerous). This may confirm what the consultant thinks but consultants have been known to be wrong - that's why a biopsy is necessary. Hopefully it will turn out to be dysplastic - they look like they are malignant but they haven't yet become cancerous.
It will be removed under local anaesthetic as a day surgery patient. The wound will be larger than the mole/lesion to ensure they have removed it all. Facial surgery doesn't look pretty but the surgeons are brilliant and the scars fade after several months. You will then get the results between 4 to 6 weeks later. If it's shown to be benign or dysplastic you need no further treatment & you will be discharged.
If it's melanoma, you will be told the depth and the Stage - this is important as it informs as to the next steps. If it's been caught very early (below 1mm in depth) you will need further surgery to ensure they've taken a safe margin around the area - it's called a wide local excision and the wound is larger. Once that has been done you will have a year of check up appointments & then be discharged. If it's 1mm or more in depth, you will undergo the wide local excision and also be offered a Sentinel Node Biopsy to see if the melanoma has travelled to the nearest lymph node. If it's found in a node, the Stage changes and you are offered a year of adjuvant drug treatment.
It's now the waiting phase for you & this can be the worst part of all this - waiting for surgery & results. Keep busy & try not to focus on it too much until you know the results, easier said than done, I know. Good luck with your surgery & please let us know how you get on,
Thank you so much for your advice it’s just a waiting game I’m just a bit concerned that the letter from the consultant said it was malignant melanoma and the one on my hairline looks like a vascular legion this is why I’m confused. Why would they tell me it is milignant
They can only tell you what they 'suspect' until the results of a biopsy are done. Sometimes a consultant might be so 'sure' that they say it to the patient but it's not helpful. My consultant had many years experience but he would only ever say 'it could be melanoma'. The biopsy proved him wrong so I've learned to wait until the results are back these days!
