Hi jak21

So sorry to hear you've had a diagnosis of melanoma. Its reassuring to hear that it's been caught early.

I too had a mole that was diagnosed as melanoma. Obviously your consultant may treat you a little differently but here's what's happened with me and this might give you an idea. 

May 21st  2021 went to gp re: mole (having looked back at holiday photos- Aug 2020 no mole at all!! It appeared and grew to a 5p coin then around Easter begun changing shape into a figure 8 with one side becoming much darker. 

May 28th referred to dermatology 

June 20th mole excised from left inner knee

July 5th results confirmed melanoma, plan to have wide local excision & lymph node biopsy 

Aug 4th - operation performed under general anaesthetic, 1 nights stay in hospital 

Sept 6th results from operation/biopsy confirmed melanoma has already spread to my lymph nodes 

Sept 13th PET-CT scan 

Also a BRAF test is being done to determine if I carry the gene making me pre-disposed to melanoma 

Since the operation was in my knee and 6cm of tissue was removed. The wound was closed with a skin flap.  I've been a little unfortunate to have 2 infections in the wound requiring antibiotics but it's almost healed completely now. I've started physio and I'm back driving and able to take short 20min walks 

I meet with my oncologist on Mon 4th Oct but I've already been told by my plastics consultant that they have decided at the multidisciplinary meeting to not do further surgery (it would have been a full clearance of the  lymph nodes) but instead I shall start immunotherapy by the end of October. 

My surgeon, consultant, skin nurse and my keyworker have all  reassured me I caught it early so there's much hope the immunotherapy will kill it dead.  

Sorry if my story makes you more anxious, that wasn't the intention but simply to inform you of my story. I know I'm a person who likes to know all I can so I'm prepared. I hope your referral appointment comes through quickly and you will soon know what the plan is. All the best and please keep us posted. 

Hi Jak,

I'm so sorry it's turned out to be melanoma but the good thing is that it's been caught early and, after treatment, you have a 95% chance of having no further problems in the future.

They will want to do a Wide Local Excision where they take a further margin of tissue as a 'mopping up'  procedure. If the melanoma was more than 0.8mm deep they may also offer you a Sentinel Lymph Node biopsy where they check the nearest nodes to ensure no melanoma cell has broken away and lodged in a node. If it's clear or your melanoma is less than 0.8mm you will then have a period of check ups before being discharged clear of the disease.

I will send you a friend request and, if you accept it, I can send you further information by private message.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Many thanks for your reply ... I think that's more that I am concerned about that if I carry the gene etc ...

Sending huge hugs to you   its nice to know that other people are suffering with this horrid disease... stay strong , best wishes for the October appointment xx 

Thankyou yet again for your quick response x 

Yes by all means send me a friend request....