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Skin Excision and waiting for results

BellaClaire
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Hello everyone,

I've only just joined here and am hoping you will be able to provide me with some advice/support and maybe reassurance. 

I have had a Solar Lentigo on my right forearm for years now. I had it checked about 5 years ago, at that point it was around 4mm. Last April (2020) I noticed it was bigger, it measured 6-7mm. I went to the doctors for a Teledermatology appointment, who sent the images off. I had a letter from the dermaology department a few days later to say all was ok and to go back to the GP if I noticed any changes. 

Anyway, the middle of January this year (2021) I noticed one edge of the Lentigo looked a lot darker and there was a very dark pinprick sized dot in it. I wasn't worried about it but thought I ought to have it checked as that was what I had been told to do. I had another Teledermatology appointment with my GP. I was absolutely fine, not thinking or worrying about it, I thought it was all ok but best to have it checked. Two days after the Telederm appointment, I got the dreaded phone from the hospital to say the dermatologist had reviewed the images and wanted the lesion removed. I was in total shock when I put the phone down and just burst into tears. It was not what I was expecting, not at all. I spent the rest of that day (Friday) and the weekend an absolute wreck. 

The following week I had a phone appointment with a lovely, very kind nurse specialist who explained the excision procedure to me. She did her best to put my mind at rest but she could hear how terrified and anxious I was. 

I had my excision two weeks ago and the wound is healing very nicely. The senior nurse specialist who carried out the excision was simply amazing. He was so kind and understanding, he too could see how scared and anxious I was, not so much of the procedure, more of what the results will show. 

What I am wondering is, does anyone have any ideas as to how long it can take for these results to come back? I was told up to four weeks. It's two weeks tomorrow for me and it's been THE LONGEST two weeks ever! I feel like my life is on hold until those results come through. 

I'm so scared of what they will be. I've been doing the worst possible thing for anyone but more so for me as I'm a natural born worrier and suffer with bad health anxieties anyway and looking on Dr Google. 

If any of you can offer me some advice, I would be so grateful. 

Thank you in advance and sorry for such a long post. 

Claire

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    Hi Claire,

    Waiting for results is the worst part of this whole experience I'm afraid. Four weeks is the current average waiting time in these days of Covid - before that they were about 2 weeks. All you can do is find something to distract yourself away from worry & Dr Google!

    The good thing is that you have had this checked out very quickly & that it's been removed. It's rare for solar lentigo to become cancerous but if it is, it's been caught very early and will be easily treatable.

    Be kind to yourself, try some meditation, a massage or a walk in the fresh air to take your mind off it for an hour or so. Good luck with your results and please let us know how you get on,

    Angie (melanoma patient)

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Hi Angie,

    Thank you so much for your reply. Another two weeks of waiting is going to be torturous. I've spent the last few weeks filled with fear of "What if it's spread all over my body". I then start looking it up on Google. I know I must stop that though. 

    I just hope I spotted the changes early enough. Obviously I know back in April last year it was all ok, after the dermatologist looked at it. It just goes to show how quickly changes can happen. Once I knew this needed to be removed, I looked up Solar Lentigo and possible connections with skin cancer. That lead me on to Lentigo Maligna and Lentigo Maligna Melanoma. One thing I do keep trying to remind myself of, is that the trusted websites I have looked on, all say the it is slow growing, so hopefully that is in my favour. 

    The nurses have been absolutely amazing and so kind. My wound/scar is very neat. It's about 4.5cm in length. I know it was done as an ellipse shape, I forgot to ask him how deep he would be going into the skin. I'm guessing it was fairly deep as I can see a sort of indentation in my arm and also how much the skin has been stretched at the widest point of the wound. I have two lovely mountain peaks at either end but as long as everything has been taken out, I don't mind those. 

    I'll do my best to keep myself busy over these next two weeks and of course I will let you know how I go on. 

    Thank you so much for your advice, it means a lot. 

     

    Claire x

  • Offline in reply to BellaClaire

     

    Hi Claire,

    A very warm welcome to our forum. My plastic surgeon told me that I would get the results within a week, but when I got the appointment through, it was for 4 weeks.

    Fortunately, I had to attend the hospital to get the stitches removed the week after surgery. When I mentioned the 4 week wait to the nurse, she said that the surgeon was in the clinic. He phoned his secretary there and then and, hey presto, my results were back. Fortunately, both lesions were clear. I sincerely hope that yours turn out to be too.

    Please let us know your results when you get them. Remember that we are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    H Jolamine,

    Thank you for your welcome and reply. 

    The hospital told me it would be anything up to 4 weeks but they would do their best to get them through sooner if they could. This is mainly because I was an absolute anxious wreck. 

    I don't have to go back for the stitches to be removed as dissolvable ones were used, which I was glad about, I'm quite squeamish and am not very good with seeing stitches in the skin. 

    It's great to hear yours we're all clear, that must have been a huge relief for you. 

    I've just been doing what I know I shouldn't do and looking on Google (again) looking at all the information about Lentigo Maligna Melanoma.  

    Yes, of course I will let you know my results. Thank you for your support. 

    Claire xx

  • Offline in reply to BellaClaire

     

    Hi Claire,

    Try to avoid consulting 'Dr Google', as this will only heighten your anxiety. Besides, there really isn't any point in doing this until you get your pathology results and know exactly what you are up against.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi Jolamine,

    Just to update you. I had a phone call from the hospital this morning and everything is ok!!!!!!! It was something called a Seborrheic Keratosis and completely benign. All the skin margins around the lesion were completely clear too. I cried on the phone when she told me.

    The sense of relief is unreal. I feel like I can get on with life again. 

    Claire x

  • Offline in reply to AngieT

    Hi Angie,

    I had the phone call from the hospital this morning. Everything is ok!!! It was something called a Seborrheic Keratosis and is completely benign. When the nurse told me, I burst into tears. The sense of relief is incredible! I feel like I can get on with life again now. 

    I'm going to buy myself a UV parasol for when I'm out and about and can't necessarily be in the shade. I might look ridiculous but I don't care  

    Thank you again for your support,

    Claire xx

  • Offline in reply to BellaClaire

     

    Hi BellaClaire,

    Thank you for the update. I'm delighted to hear that you got the all clear. Mine were Seborrheic Keratosis too. I'm not surprised that you cried when told. It's such a relief after all that worry.

    Take care in the sun from now on.


    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to BellaClaire

    Hi Claire,

    That's wonderful news. I bought a UV parasol a few years ago - it goes around the world with me as I find that sunhats make my head too hot!

    Enjoy the summer now - when we have one!

    Angie xx

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