Hi JordanLouise,

Welcome to Cancer Chat and I'm sorry to read of what you're going through at the moment - I hope you're getting on OK.

To be honest I'm not sure of the answer to your question. Our nurses will be better placed to advise, so if you would like to receive a reply from them then you can post in the 'Ask the nurses' section of this forum, or alternatively give them a call on 0808 800 4040 - Monday-Friday, 9-5.

Wishing you all the best,

Ben
Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi,

No, you won't be offered a Sentinel Node biopsy as this is only done on patients whose melanoma is more than 0.8mm deep (because there is a much less chance of nodal involvement from a melanoma thinner than 0.8). Those offered it can refuse and ask to be monitored by ultrasound instead. I hope this helps and good luck with your WLE.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)

Hi Laura,

As per the linked NICE guidelines, a SLNB should not be offered to a patient with a melanoma Breslow thickness less than 1mm. Some consultants actually offer them for 0.8mm but it is not the usual policy to offer them for less than 0.8mm. I can only think that your consultant decided to offer it due to unusual circumstances. I'm not saying that a melanoma less than 0.8mm won't spread, it's just that this is the guideline from NICE. I know only too well that it can spread. Mine was 0.7mm, I wasn't offered a SLNB and it spread - that is why I have been Stage 3b since 2009. My former dermatologist was also the head of NICE for melanoma guidelines and she explained it in detail to me. www.nice.org.uk/.../1-recommendations

Angie