Hi,

I'm sorry yoto hear about your diagnosis but please rest assured that the procedures they have spoken of are routine and don't mean that they think it's spread.

A Wide Local Excision (WLE) is done for everyone, no matter how deep the mole was whilst a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) is offered to everyone whose melanoma is more than 0.8mm in depth. 

The WLE is done as a 'belt & braces' procedure to ensure that they have removed a safe margin of tissue & mopped up any stray cancer cells that may have broken away - very few patients results show that melanoma has been found in the WLE tissue so that's reassuring. 

The SLNB is an optional procedure which is carried out at the same time as the WLE. Dye is injected at the site of the melanoma and tracked to where it travels to the nearest (sentinel) lymph node(s). These are then removed to see if any stray cell has travelled to this node. If it has, they will then do scans to see if it's travelled any further before deciding what treatment plan to arrange next. If the SLNB is clear, you will have regular check ups for between 3 & 5 years (dependant on your Stage). 

The SLNB is optional - some patients choose not to have it because it because there is a very slim chance of it causing side effects such as mild lymphoedema. Those who choose not to have it are usually offered regular ultrasounds to check the nodes. The SLNB isn't part of any treatment, it's used mainly as a diagnostic tool to better stage the patient. 

Staging is initially worked out from the depth of the melanoma & then if it has spread to the sentinel node. At the moment I'm assuming your depth is 0.8mm or more due to you being offered the SLNB. If you look at this link www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../stages-types and if you have been told the depth of your melanoma you can work out your initial staging. If Stage 1 your chances of never having any further problems after treatment are very good - 97% of patients! 

I hope your next procedure(s) are carried out quickly & you receive the results soon so that your worries can be eased a little. Good luck and please let us know how you get on,

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)

Hi Angie thank you for replying back to me so quickly .

I just need to try keep calm as it's all I can think about right now and it's making me sick I just don't wanna eat or do anything cos I feel so worried which presumably is normal for anyone of us in this situation isn't it .

They didn't tell me on the phone what size is was or anything ? Which then has now scared me cos I'm thinking is it big ?  

I've jsut wait for appointment for my SLNB an WLE that's all he kinda said he said if you don't want to have to some patients don't which now makes sense by what you've said cos of the slim risks it involves I suppose

Thanks 

Sparkle x

Hi,

It's normal to feel how you do - you are still in shock from the diagnosis. It does get better as each day goes by, believe me.

They may not have told you the depth yet because some consulants wait until the results of the WLE are back so they can give an accurate staging, so don't worry that it's because it's very deep, that's not the reason.

Try & take each day as it comes. Find ways to distract yourself & don't focus on worse case scenarios - there is a good chance it's been caught quickly & it can be successfully treated.

Angie x

Hi Sparkle, so sorry to hear you're going through this - we went through it a few years ago. My other half had a growing mole removed that turned out to be melanoma and went on to have a wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy. It came back confirming there had been no spread, and he is now past the 5 year follow up without any problems. We now just keep an eye out for any further issues but it's unlikely. So yes SNLB can and often will come back negative.
 

I think he only found out the detail about depth, type etc at that point as well - the WLE/SLNB was done at a different hospital and it was that consultant who explained it. 
 

Wishing you the very best with it all, definitely better that it's been identified and can be tackled now but waiting is absolutely the hardest part. I'm now waiting on a scan for potential thyroid cancer at the moment so absolutely with you on the not eating and feeling sick! Hopefully that will pass once you have a bit more information and a plan. As Angie says, one day at a time x