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Waiting on a wide local excision

natashandy
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Hi,

I've recently been diagnosed with stage 1a melanoma and I've been told I need to wait up to 4 months for a wide local excision, this seems to be a really long time. Does anybody know if this is standard, I cant see anywhere that gives a specialist view on time from diagnosis to getting the wider cut done.

I would really like to hear your view or experience.

Thank you 

  • Offline

    Hi natashandy,

    Wow, 4 months is an inordinately long time to wait for a WLE - the average wait is 6 weeks. The waiting time can vary depending on the hospital - where are you being treated? It might be a good idea to go back to your GP and ask them to refer you to a hospital with a shorter waiting list. Good luck,

    Angie (melanoma patient)

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Hi Angie, 

    It is a long wait and that is a really good idea. I've also considered going private, I'm not sure of the cost but surely it can be done sooner. However I think I'll speak to my GP first as you suggest.

    I hope things are going okay for you, to be honest the past few weeks, since diagnosis, have been a real test of resilience for me. It may only be stage 1a but the word cancer brings with it so many negative thoughts.

  • Offline in reply to natashandy

    I have just read this on another post that is about long waiting times - 'NHS guidelines laid down by the government are that patients should start treatment no later than 62 days from original referral date'.

    I know that your consultant could argue that your treatment (initial biopsy) started within the 62 days but the WLE is treatment that is an extension of the initial removal and waiting 4 months for the second part of the treatment is not acceptable. I hope your GP can sort this out for you as going private (unless you have insurance) will be very expensive. 

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    I have a 1b melanoma which was removed on the 8th January.  I waited 4 weeks for the results, then referred to the hospital  for a wide local excision and a sentinel lymph node biopsy.  I saw the consultant 3 weeks ago and still no date given for the operation.  It is now 17th March.  In all this time I have been worried and then reassured by nurses, but I am still worried about the length of time it has taken!

  • Offline in reply to Kazcardie

    Hi, how did this go? I today have been told my mole was/is 1b malanoma, I am going for a wle and lymph node test in around 4 weeks the wait time is? Any information on this would be appreciated, 

     

    peter 

  • Offline in reply to Petervvvv

    Hi Peter,

    The wait for WLE & SLNB at the moment appears to be averaging 6 weeks due to Covid but hopefully this will shorten as hospitals are now dealing with the backlog of patients. Under normal circumstances the wait averaged 2 weeks. Hopefully you will have yours within the 4 weeks you were stated. Good luck & please let us know how you get on,

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)

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