Cancer Research UK main site
  • Replies 3 replies
  • Views 170 views
  • Users 0 members are here

Advice on Melanoma

Stub
Offline

Hi, First time user of this or any forum re my cancer. I'm not as bad off as some but I seem to be living in a state of unknown so I was looking for advice from anyone that has been through treatment for skin cancer.

I had a thing that just appeared out of nowhere on my cheek so I went to my GP who swiftly had it removed and sent for biopsy telling me it looked like a burst blood vessel. Surgeon said the same but then called me back in a few days later to tell me it was melanoma (3mm deep). They have since removed part of my cheek to reduce the chances of spread and there were no resudual cancer cells in the chunk of flesh. When I returned to see the surgeon he said he was happy and didn't see the point in me getting any kind of scan to see if I am cancer free. My GP told me I should get the scan so I am confused.

I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar diagnosis and outcome and if they went for a scan or just carried on regardless? I am and have been quite anxious and worried since my surpirse diagnosis and feel I never asked the correct questions when I had the chance.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

  • Offline

    Hi

    I think you should go with your GP on this and get the scan. You have to weigh up the risk of the scan, Xrays and especially CT scans (which are also X-rays) have a small chance of causing a cancer themselves so are not to be taken lightly. The fact there was no cancer found at the margins of what was removed is extremely good news for you and that may be the end of it. However if there is more cancer inside of you elsewhere it is worth detecting early. It would also give you complete rest of mind if nothing more is found. I had a different type of skin cancer which I had removed from my head, I did not have a further scan. Unfortunately four months later it had spread into my neck and salivary glands and now my lung. A scan may have picked this up earlier and I would not now be in a life threatening situation. Wishing you good luck Kim

  • Offline in reply to kimchoson

    Thanks for your reply Kim. Sorry to hear yours has spread and I wish you the very best of luck in your fight.

    My thinking, like yours, is to go for the scan. Perhaps my surgeons advice was based on the risk of a scan but nobody explained that to me (or if they did I had zoomed out). As you say, the earlier anything that may be there is caught, the better .

    Thanks again and fingers crossed for you. 

    Stuart

     

  • Offline in reply to Stub

    Hi Stuart,

    Yes please go with your doctor. Sorry Dont want to worry you but I was diagnosed with melanoma in January,had it removed in March. I was  concerned about  a lymph node they were unable to remove. I was persistent about having a c.t scan to put my mind at rest, eventually I had the scan in June and they found  I had a tumour on my lung. After tests it showed it was not the melanoma that had spread but a different cancer of the lung

    Iam so glad that I was persistent as they caught it early and have been able to operate. So YES defiantly have a  scan .

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.