Hi there, so I've just found out I have stage 3 melanoma. I initially went to my gp early June as a new mole appeared within 6 months and grew to a 5p size and changed shape and colour. Immediately referred to dermatology who booked me in to have it removed. All done I assumed but then the news come back it was melanoma and 6wks ago i had wide local excision to remove 6cm tissue from around my left inner knee. The wound looks like a shark bite its horrific! They also did a lymph node biopsy. I had a very long 5wk wait for the results and then last week they confirmed it has already spread to my lymph nodes in my groin. I'm being fast tracked and yesterday had a PET-CT scan (the radioactive stuff going in wasn't pleasant) and tests are being done to determine if I'm BRAF positive. I'm waiting for an oncology appointment and I've been told I will be starting a course of immunotherapy. Can anyone tell me about immunotherapy as I don't know anyone whose had this treatment. I feel physically and emotionally wrecked as I'm still recovering from the operation and had no end of difficulties with the wound- opened up and then infection. Antibiotics then gave me thrush and now I've got seroma and the tight throbbing is unbearable. I start physio tomorrow and I've got a check up straight after. I just want this all to go away as I lost the whole summer and everything planned got cancelled. I have 2 young teenage kids. Everyones been supportive but I'm getting lots of unhelpful and unwanted advice. I know they mean well but they don't know just how this is affecting me. Anyone been in the same situation who can offer reassuring advice right now would be great.
