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Melanoma diagnosis today

Tree45
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I've just found out the suspicious mole on my leg, which was removed and sent for biopsy three weeks ago, is a melanoma. It's 1mm thick, the doctor said it's early cancer. I've to have more skin removed next week, followed by my lymph nodes being checked ending in a wider removal of skin. I'm feeling quite numb and in shock and terrified it's spread. My mum is in the middle of radiotherapy for breast cancer. I've not told my parents anything, but my siblings know. I have a wonderful husband by my side. But I'm afraid.

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    Hi Tree45

    Sorry to hear your news and also thst your mum is being treated for bc.

    It's totally understandable that your afraid but good you have your husbands support.

    I've just found out I have breast cancer and that luckily it hasn't spread but have to have 6 months of chemo then radiotherapy.

    If I was your mum I'd want to know so I could support you and vice versa. It will obviously be upsetting for them but then you can be open and honest. 

    Let me know how you get on 

    Louise x

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    Hi, I was diagnosed with melanoma last week and am now waiting for a referral for the wide excision operation like you. The anxiety is horrendous isn't it, especially as all we can do is wait. I'm sorry to hear about your mum. My mum died of lymphoma last September and I had really hoped to have a few years not thinking about cancer all the time. I've been googling more than is sensible and the positive things I've read are that there are so many treatments for melanoma now. Even if it has spread there are people who survive. 

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    Hi,

    I'm so sorry that you are going through this & that your mum has her own cancer treatment at the same time. Only you can know whether your mum would want to know about your diagnosis at the moment. Sometimes, in a weird way, sharing a serious health burden can help as you focus more on the other person's progress rather than your own.

    I know how terrifying a cancer diagnosis is and at the moment you are still in shock. It will take a few days for your mind to take in more information & to see, as 1234go says, that there are many treatments for melanoma and many patients survive the disease. I was diagnosed Stage 1 in 1996 and then Stage 3 in 2009 - I'm still here fit as a fiddle & with no evidence of disease 12 years later, so it's not as desperate as it was many years ago.

    A 1mm thick melanoma is still early stage & hopefully you will have no further problem after the wide local excision (and they may suggest a sentinel lymph node biopsy due it being over .8mm deep). I will send you a friend request so that I can send you more information that may help - it's much better getting information from fellow patients than from Google which is out of date when it comes to statistics and available treatments.

    My advice is to first decide whether to tell your mum - talk it out with your lovely husband and siblings and then you can focus on the next step in your treatment. 

    Angie

  • Offline in reply to Bellelouise

    Hi Louise

    Thank you so much for your message.

    I'm sorry to read of your diagnosis. It's such a shock isn't it, even though you prepare yourself, hearing the words out loud takes It to another level.

    I decided to tell my parents yesterday. I actually felt relieved, I think I was adding extra stress to myself worrying about adding extra stress to them! But they were great, more upset I hadn't told them.

    When do you start your chemotherapy?

    Teresa

  • Offline in reply to 1234Go

    Hi 

    Thanks so much for your reply.

    Yes, the waiting is by far the worst. I'm 45 and didn't realise that it's not normal to have new miles after age 40. I've got fair freckly skin so I was used to new moles so didn't worry at first. It was only because my husband noticed it felt a bit strange that I looked more closely. Then the third lockdown kicked in which delayed me going to my GP. It seemed to grow quite quickly so I'm glad I didn't leave it any longer. 

    Have you been given any idea when you will have your operation? My doctor is removing more area first, then a lymph node procedure followed by the final wide excision. The first bit should happen this week.

     

     

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Hi Angie

    Thanks so much for your reply.

    I decided to tell my parents, which you may have read from a previous reply. It was a relief to be honest. I feel a little better this morning, but still a bit strange. 

    Thank you for your friend request, I have accepted. Any support is gratefully received.

    It sounds as though you have been through quite a journey and it's reassuring to read about it, thank you for sharing.

    Teresa

  • Offline in reply to Tree45

    Hi Teresa 

    Glad you told your parents and yes I can imagine it must of lifted a weight after, the more support you have the better.

    I see my oncologist Wednesday and will find out all the details, dates then. I know I have a rough road ahead and will lose my hair but it's a means to an end. 

    Louise x

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