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Ankle Melanoma what to expect?

Sahla
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Hi 

I just wanted to hear from people who had melanoma in the ankle just to understand the best and worse scenarios. I have had a mole excised from my ankle yesterday (another one from my shin and told I will have to come back for more, how nice!). The consultant when she first saw the mole on my ankle she said "this does not look good. I am not happy about this one". After that my jaw fell and I did not ask any questions. I did not expect doctors to communicate in that way. She sent me for excision with not much explanation offered. Everybody around me was telling me not to worry and it is nothing. I did not even bother taking the day off.  I had the excision yesterday, and it wasn't nothing. The cut on the ankle is not as small as I expected and because it is on my ankle it feels like she may have sewed my legaments with skin honestly. last night I woke up screaming with pain several times and woke up everybody else. I cant walk, collect my daughter from school, go upstairs... sorry it sounds like moaning but bottom line I was not prepared and had no idea on what to expect. I am hoping that with the amount of margin she cut yesterday, that all of it was removed. The ankle is a very tricky area, and I can't find people with similar experiences online. I am someone who would like to be well informed and so the biopsy will come back in a couple of weeks or so I was told. If they have to cut more, I am slim built and there is very little skin on the joint. So did anyone had a wide excision on the ankle? how does that work? when people have melanoma in the ankle where does this type metastasize? does it still go to the lympth nodes? I am not scared. I just want to understand and be prepared. Does melanoma in the ankle ever result in limb loss?

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    Hi there ...

    Think that's a rare one on here ... it might be hard to get an answer .. but if I were you, I'd write those questions down and ask the G P or hospital ward you were on for more info you need ... there does seem a lack of support or numbers to ring after those tests ..

    Fingers crossed they are more helpfull ... Chrissie x

  • Offline in reply to Chriss

    Hi Chrissie

    Thanks for the advice. Yes I realised that it is uncommon to get melanoma on the ankle.  as you said, I will try to be more prepared next time. Fingers crossed 

    Sahla

     

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    Hi Sahla,

    My melanoma was on my shin so not quite as bad as the ankle, however I know of several patients who have had melanoma on areas of the foot (ankle or heel or ball of foot). If melanoma is diagnosed after a biopsy, further surgery is always required to ensure a good margin is removed to catch any cancer cells that have broken away into surrounding tissue. This is called a Wide Local Excision and on areas with little skin and tissue a skin graft is usually necessary.

    Melanoma usually metastasizes through the lymphatic system to the lymph nodes and onwards to an organ, bones or the brain. It can sometimes spread via the blood system instead of the lymphatic system. I have never heard of anyone suffering limb loss from melanoma of the foot (toe or finger amputation may sometimes be necessary if a patient has melanoma under a toenail or fingernail).

    I hope this helps and that the information turns out to be unnecessary in your case

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Hi Angie

    Thanks for your reply. Since I had the excision I have been unable to move around. My foot and leg was swollen and things have not been easy particularly with the layout of our house. I had excision to the shin and another to the ankle. The shin is healing ok but Im almost certain that I have nerve damage to my foot as a result of the surgery. It is like my foot is in pins and needles and a shooting pain. I have disc damage in my neck and the pain that it causes is very similar to what I am feeling now in my foot. Do you think it will go away, or should I call the GP or the number that they gave me after biopsy about it? The idea that they may have to cut more from my ankle is frightening, there is very little skin there. Fingers crossed 

     

    Sahla

  • Offline in reply to Sahla

    Hi Sahla,

    I would call the number they gave you after the surgery in the first instance. They may ask you to go to their clinic or the dressings clinic to check the wound, especially if it's swollen more than the usual post surgery swelling. I

    Angie x

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