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Newly diagnosed stage 1

virgo22
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Thanks to the NHS this whole journey has been quick. December 2020 I visited the GP for a suspicious looking mole, she referred we straight away with the 2 week wait list for dermatologist. 
 

The dermatologist didn't seem concerned but decided to do a punch excision to send for biopsy. The wound became infected and was VERY sore, and with the way my brain works, I automatically thought there was something wrong.

CNS nurse telephone appointment - diagnosed with Stage 1 Melanoma. Part of me should be grateful that we detected this horrible disease early, but also part of me feels invaded and sick with worry. I have a 3y boy, so the anxiety is significant. 
 

luckily my WLE is booked in for Thursday! I'm feeling positive and glad this is fast moving, but again the worry, anxiety and stress is affecting me. Sleepless nights, stress headaches, constantly examining my body looking for abnormalities, what will my future be like? Will this ever stop? 

trying my best to remain as positive as I can, but I do find this difficult. 
 


 

 

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    Hi,

    It's not a great position to be in but it's good that you have had it dealt with quickly. Stage 1 melanoma has a very good success rate - 97% of patients never have any further problem after their surgery so concentrate on that fact. If you were unfortunate enough to be in the 3% that do have a recurrence (like myself), treatments these days are having great success so it's not as desperate as it was when I was first diagnosed (Stage 1 in 1996 and Stage 3 in 2009). I'm still here, with no evidence of disease, after the ups & downs of dealing with this disease, so try not to panic & keep positive. 

    Good luck with your WLE - I will send you a friend request in case you want to chat by pm.

    Angie x

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    Hi, 

    I am in the 'Oesophageal club' , so not the same as you, but your emotions read exactly like mine did when my husband was diagnosed in July.

    We( or he) are now coming towards the end of treatment. We very much felt , how dare the C change our plans, what will the future hold. It was almost like a 'bereavement' process. We,in the 21st century got used to having a reletevly comfortable lives, with the ability to look forward to things we would like to do and plan and 'dream' about them and when something comes along to change that we are really miffed. Very few of us in the UK wonder how we are going to put food on the table every week, or will we able to afford vaccines against infections, or getting hit by the proverbial bus. We all feel quite safe I guess.

    You sound like us , in the sense you were not expecting anything dodgy at all, BUT like us, as a result you have nabbed the blighter at a very early stage, when you have the most promising prognosis- okay a few months of sheeeite, but a 'lucky' find. So crack on and 'sort it' and get back to your plans.

    I totally agree with you about the NHS- omg, talk about fast as lightening and absolute dogs bollo****s treatment.  My nephew lives in the US and says what we have had, would cost upwards of $ 150,000! minimum, Hence why I guess the outcomes there are apparently not so good. So bare that in mind when you, like everyone on earth looks at 'Dr Google "(:, that access and cost of treatments in many countries around the world certainly influences the data. Not so much here.

    Best wishes

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Thankyou for replying. 
     

    I do look at the statistics quite often in my late night googling sessions. My brain is just functioned to think the word possible scenario. 
    Thankyou for your story, it has filled me with more positivity hearing your experience and that you are currently living with no evidence of disease. 
     
    best wishes! 

     

  • Offline in reply to Hilts

    Thankyou for your time! 
     

    My partner kept telling me "there's nothing wrong, your young, you don't feel unwell, it's not going to be sinister" - and here we are. My WLE is next week, so that's our next hurdle. Positive thoughts though. It's going to be a rough couple of weeks/months, but like your say the prognosis is promising.

    we are lucky to have the NHS, even through this pandemic they have been working extremely hard and I cannot fault my journey. I do feel like I am in good hands. 

     

  • Offline in reply to virgo22

    Yep, 

    Get cracking. It does feel a 'bit' better when you start treatment. You kinda get to the point where it is like 'right, war'. What choice do I have.The initial emotional storm is the worst thing we've experienced. Don't get me wrong, we are still not best pleased and the emotions and thoughts change on a daily basis (at the start, they changed on an hourly basis(:)

    He has had major major surgery and seriously nuclear chemo, and we are going through the 'final' (hopefully) post op chemo, just in case any of the little f***ers are on the move looking for a new home grrrr, But it has changed us, stangely enough about things like money, we are much more like , yep , let's spend what we have on enjoying ourselves, rather than thinking oh , we'll keep that for a rainy day and holiday ideas, stuff like that and of course work.... what to do about that. We are slowly coming around to the 'we are only here once & I'm going to enjoy it'mindset and thinking about living to the full the time we are given, rather than the length of time.....strangest most surreal thing ever.

    We even got to the point, and I still think it now, when we got the diagnosis, it was a case of " ah, thank god it is cancer, could have been a lot worse, like some hideous disease with no treatments" how mad is that! As for sitting up all night googling - oh yes, know all about that, couldn't sleep, so what better thing to do that go down and look at dr goggle........... I think we all do it, in an attempt to 'process' the whole thing, try and make sense of a seriously surreal experience.

    crack on......

    best wishes.

  • Offline in reply to Hilts

    Hello! 
     
     

    How did it go? 
     

    always open to my messages if you need a chat x 

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    Hi, we seem to be in a similar boat. 
     

     I was referred in September, I had my first removal in October which was confirmed as a stage 1 melanoma. This week I have been for a wider excision and a SLNB. now waiting for the results of that but I just have a bad feeling. Would be nice to chat x 

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    Hi. Do get in touch with Melanoma UK for support. I'm here on cancer chat because my husband has just been diagnosed with bowel cancer and I spotted your post and wanted to signpost. My auntie founded the charity for one of her friends and she is wonderful. Take care, wishing you strength and courage on your journey. 

  • Offline in reply to jaffarings

    Morning, 

    fingerscrossed that it was found early that your results of those procedures are ok...but of course it is always a worry. I'm exactly the same, but trying my best to remain positive. 
     

    I'm finding my recovery from WLE extremely painful my location is on my buttocks, and you forget how much you need your bum for everything. How are you feeling following your procedures? 
     

    best wishes x 

     

     

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