Ginjab, high _its surprising how many Dr's don't take enough notice of a patient in their care, the Dr does not get hurt its the pacient if you read some of these strings thares others had same problem, after getting a second opinion. To sort it out properly. Nowadays you have to fight to get things done properly and it shouldn't be like that. If you want to have a good rant welcome any time.......

Billy 

Hi Ginjab,

I'm sorry that you have been diagnosed with melanoma and that it took such a long time for it to be dealt with, especially as you were quick to get it looked at.

Firstly, can I try to calm your fear of it having spread. Sometimes a delay can cause this but in many cases it doesn't, so hopefully your WLE & SLNB will come back clear. If it has spread to the surrounding tissue or node it may not necessarily have happened during the delay, it could have happened before it had been checked by your GP, sadly we can never pinpoint the time a spread has occurred. If it has spread, then melanoma treatment has new treatments that are showing great promise so don't despair.

I was diagnosed Stage 1 in 1996 and then it returned in my nodes & I was Stage 3 in 2009. We don't know when it spread but we have a good idea it had probably already spread before I saw my GP in 1996 as I had left it a year before seeing them! I wasn't offered a SLNB as it was only 0.7 in depth - who knows, it may have been picked up then but probably not as it appeared to bypass my sentinel node & lodge in my groin & pelvic nodes for 13 years before showing it's ugly face! So it's not as clear cut as everyone thinks. The good bit is that I'm still here 10 years later with no sign of the disease. I've had no treatment other than surgery (drug treatment was only made available for new Stage 3 patients since September 2018) so I've only had regular check ups.

So, even with swift service from your GP, the outcome may have been the same. However, it's a problem we see a lot, where GP's aren't used to seeing melanoma or haven't been trained and patients slip through the net - either not referred or referred as non urgent. We need to educate them so that future patients don't suffer the same delay and future consequences of that delay. With that in mind can I ask that, once you have your results, you go see your GP and explain what happened - if you have a photo of your mole that would be great to show them. Hopefully they will then see how different moles can look when they are cancerous. If your GP isn't receptive I suggest you make a complaint to the practice manager, suggesting that the GP & their colleagues receive better training about melanoma.

I know you wrote this in the early hours when our minds race away with us & your points are very valid but it's better to deal with your GP in a calm manner & hopefully they will take your complaint on board. It won't help you but it will help future patients, hopefully. Meanwhile, your surgical scars will heal and start to fade. Hopefully your results will be clear & you will then have a period of regular check ups. If they aren't clear you will possibly be offered adjuvant drug treatment and maybe more nodes removed, it all depends on where the cancer has spread to. 

If you don't mind I will send you a friend request. If you accept it I can pass you further information that you may feel helpful. I hope you aren't waiting too long for your results and that they bring good news. Please let us know how you get on,

Angie

I must say it's encouraging to hear you both mention years since diagnosis. :) 
& Thank you so much for taking the time to write. It has given a troubled mind a bit of peace this evening.

Hi Ginjab,

Welcome to our forum, although I'm sorry to hear the reason why you joined. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 10 years. Last year I was advised by my Lymphoedema nurse to get a lesion on my back seen . I went to my GP, who said that it could be something sinister. She sent me to medical imaginig, where I had some photos taken of this lesion. This was then sent to a ermatologist for her viewoint. She then appoints her appointments according to priority Fortunately, when I saw her, she didn't feel that this merited any further tests and I was discharged.

Later in the year, my son noticed a mole on my face just below my eye. The process was the same, but I was seen much sooner by the dermatologist. She was concerned about the appearance of my face post-surgery, so referred me to see a plastic surgeon. He looked at another suspicious lesion on the inside of my ankle. He decided to carry out an excisional biopsy on both lesions. I got the results a week later and, fortunately, both lesions were benign.

I hope that all goes well for you and that your results are better this time. Please stay in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Angie,

I have also had a similar poor experience with GP not picking up my Melanoma early enough! Your reply to Ginjab was of interest & I will definitely be contacting my surgery to suggest better skin cancer training after I have the second surgery & biopsy results. My diagnosis was a stage 2A. Are you aware of what the A stands for?

would it be possible for you to friend me as well as I'd be interested in the extra information you can provide?

Thanks,

Phil

Hi Phil,

I've sent you a friend request.

Angie

Hi Angie,

I've accepted your friend invitation thank you... would you be able to send me the extra information?

Phil

Hi Phil,

I've sent you a message.

Angie