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Malignant Melanoma

Mollie21
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Hello! 
 

I noticed a mole on my face had grown so rung my GP and was refferred for a urgent 2mm margin excision biopsy which I had on 4 June.

 

My results are in but there isn't a clinician available to discuss them with me until the beginning of July. 
 

I am an absolute mess and don't know what to think.

 

As I have already had the mole taken off what happens if the results come back and say that it was melanoma? 
 

I'm completely in the dark with everything and struggling at the thought of waiting another 2 weeks for results :( 

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    Hiya,

    I completely get your fear and anxiety about the results. I haven't had melanoma, but do know something about it so I will try and tell you a little bit, and hope it might help until someone better informed comes along.

    It's good that you had a 2mm excision biopsy, first of all. That gives them the best chance to have got all of it out, if it does turn out to have been melanoma - that's quite a good margin. They will have examined the section of skin they removed and if there is any evidence of melanotic cells towards the edges of it, they will probably take out a bit more around the area. But some people just have a shave biopsy, where the top of the mole is removed, which leaves them in trouble if they are diagnosed with melanoma, as you can't measure how deep it was properly, so that can make planning treatment harder. You have had the right treatment so far, then, so you can rest assured about that.

    Secondly, I don't know for sure, and the time it takes to get results can be really hit and miss, so don't quote me, but if the results were positive and it was more than just a very shallow-depth melanoma (what they call "in situ" - it can't spread) they wouldn't be waiting four weeks to let you know. However this might be affected by the current situation, so as I said, it's not an absolute.

    When my friend was diagnosed, she was told very quickly and began treatment very soon after that. Hers was serious, unfortunately, and they really didn't hang around.

    The next step if it does come back positive would either be a further margin being taken out, as I mentioned, or you would be given other tests to try and establish whether and how far it had spread. That might involve testing your lymph nodes, by way of a biopsy, or having another scan. And then go from there.

    Treatments have moved on enormously since my friend's experience, and there are far more options than there were ten years ago. That said, I hope you have good news, and that they don't need to do anything else. Something like 95% of melanomas (someone will be along to correct my figures!) are as good as cured by removal if removed early.

    All good wishes and let us know how you get on. Also, you could try persisting - tell them how worried you are and you might get further. Also, I don't know if you rang the hospital where you had it removed or your GP, but you could try the other - they might have your results, and might be able to go through them with you to set your mind at rest.

    The waiting is the worst bit, or so I am told.

     

    AK

     

  • Offline in reply to Anon.K

    Thank you so much!

     

    I have tried all sorts to get my results but it isn't working. I am hoping to get them released directly to me on Monday as I can use my Dad's private health insurance and get someone to explain them to me. I wish I had started the process through them but thought the Drs would say that everything was okay.

     

    The waiting is awful and the receptionists told me that I my results would be in by last Thursday but never mentioned the wait to have them explained. I am thinking the worst as the receptionist won't discuss anything with me.

     

    Hopefully I will know something soon but I will let you know.. thank you again for replying I really appreciate it & I hope your friend is okay :)  

  • Offline in reply to Mollie21

    Oh well that sounds like a plan! I really hope you're able to find out something soon, and obviously that it is good news.

    Just to add that I wouldn't read anything into the receptionist not being able to say anything. I once persuaded a secretary to tell me my results on the phone, but because she wasn't trained she got them wrong, and told me something entirely misleading. My consultant was a bit cross about it, so that is why they have these rules. It doesn't mean it's bad news. 

     

    Good luck and fingers crossed it's all OK. 

     

  • Offline in reply to Mollie21

    Hi,

     

    I'm really sorry to hear you are having to wait for your results this long. I realise that waiting until the beginning of July feels like an age, however, a 4 week wait between excision & results is currently the average waiting time. 

    Although your results were expected to be in a few days ago, they then have to be discussed by the MDT - Multi Disciplinary Team - the Plastic Surgeon, Dermatologist, Oncologist & Specialist Nurses. This is done for ALL cases, whether the mole was benign or cancerous. Each patient's case is discussed & a plan agreed by them all. If the mole is benign the plan will either be to discharge the patient or to monitor them for a short time (where the patient has lots of moles and the offender was found to be a dysplastic (atypical) mole - benign but having the capacity to turn cancerous if not removed). If the mole is cancerous the plan will be to remove a further margin (Wide Local Excision) to ensure any possible cancer cells are mopped up. Dependant on the depth of the melanoma (0.8mm or above) a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy is also offered. The consultant then arranges to give you the results. MDTs are only held once a week so that also adds to the delay. 

    I know this explaination doesn't help with your anxiety but please know that the waiting time has no significance in the diagnosis. Most consultants like to give results face to face, whether benign or positve, so they are not usually offered over the phone or by letter. Your GP may have already been sent a copy of the biopsy results but not the MDT decision so any result you ask them for will be incomplete. Also be aware that GP's, unless they specialise in dermatology, have little knowledge as to what happens next with regard to follow up and/or further treatment, so getting incomplete information may cause more worry than waiting for the full results. Similarly, receptionists (GP or consultant's) are not allowed to give results over the phone.

    With regard to trying to get the results released direct to you - please remember that they may be incomplete as the MDT may not yet have been held. Due to this I think they will resist releasing them to you.

    As AngieK has mentioned, 95% of early stage (Stage 1) patients have no further problems after a Wide Local Excision & regular monitoring for a year or two. Also, many patients who have a mole removed are given clear results, so there is a very good chance yours is fine or was caught early. Treatments have definately improved over the years. I was first diagnosed early stage 24 years ago & then Stage 3 11 years ago. I have seen huge leaps with research & treatments that have become available in the last 5 years & I'm still here, fit, healthy & with no sign of the disease so please take heart.

    Good luck for clear results & please let us know how you get on,

    Angie

     

     

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Hi Angie 

     

    Thank you so much for your reply, it really helped.

     

    The Drs saw me today as they were concerned how worried I was and unfortunately I've been diagnosed with stage 1 melanoma but it was only 0.6mm so luckily I caught it early.

     

    It's all a bit of a shock but I'm sure it will sink in eventually.. I am due to have a WLE in a couple of weeks time and have another suspicious looking mole removed. 
     

    Fingers crossed it all goes okay 
     

     

  • Offline in reply to Mollie21

    Hi Mollie,

     

    I'm sorry it was a positive result but Stage 1 melanoma has an excellent prognosis and most patients have no further problems once they have had the WLE and a short term of monitoring.

     

    Good luck with your surgery. I've sent you a friend request in case you ever want to chat by private message,

     

    Angie x

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