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Original poster

Melanoma and lymph nodes

17 replies

PrincessHoneysuckle · 18/02/2020 20:59

Didnt know where to put this.
Dh best friend has being diagnosed with melanoma and its gone into the lymph nodes in his neck,he's having an op on Thursday.

Does anyone know how likely it is that he'll make a full recovery? Dh doesn't want to ask his friend a lot of questions but hes worried.

OP posts:

BigPinkFlower · 18/02/2020 21:20

Melanoma where?

Original poster

PrincessHoneysuckle · 18/02/2020 21:21

Sorry all I know is that it was skin cancer

OP posts:

Tiranaorbust · 18/02/2020 21:25

Skin cancer- are you sure?
Melanoma covers some throat cancers as well.

Interested in this thread?

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General health Skin conditions

Tiranaorbust · 18/02/2020 21:26

HPV caused head and neck cancers are melanomas that go to the lymph in the neck - not a doctor but just been through this with a family member.

Original poster

PrincessHoneysuckle · 18/02/2020 21:27

I think it was on surface ofneck,had it removed now having op lymph nodes

OP posts:

Tiranaorbust · 18/02/2020 21:29

So they are removing and testing the lymphs?
This is pretty awful- staples around the neck- my relative got an infection and was yo going in and out. A& E at 4 in the morning.

Then after 4-6 weeks wait to heal chemo and radio therapy for about 6 weeks?

Tiranaorbust · 18/02/2020 21:32

My understanding is that the survival rate for head and neck cancers is very bespoke- they tell you not to google- if you do the mayo clinic is the best.

Tiranaorbust · 18/02/2020 21:33

Where in the country roughly?

Tiranaorbust · 18/02/2020 21:41

What can you do to help?

Buy v neck cotton t shirts- primark have some great cotton ones at a few pounds- they were the life saver. You cant bear anything touching the staples/scar

Get wireless bose noise cancelling headphones (if you can afford them or similar but cordless). Cables cant do round the neck, the ward is very noisy and they let you listen to music and zone out. Neck cancers tend to be older people- so lots of dementia sufferers who are out of their homes and disorientated- wards are noisy and chaotic (relative has been in 3 hospitals- all the same).

Eating is hard after the lymph removal. The hospital puts you on a custard/soup type diet. So take in shakes, sweets to suck, protein drinks.

AlexaAmbidextra · 18/02/2020 23:45

HPV caused head and neck cancers are melanomas that go to the lymph in the neck - not a doctor but just been through this with a family member.

No they aren’t. You have the wrong end of the stick here. Your relative may well have had a melanoma but not all HPV head and neck cancers are melanoma. They are almost all squamous cell, not melanoma.

AlexaAmbidextra · 18/02/2020 23:52

Neck cancers tend to be older people- so lots of dementia sufferers who are out of their homes and disorientated- wards are noisy and chaotic (relative has been in 3 hospitals- all the same).

Tirana. Please excuse me being blunt but you really are talking a load of bollocks. This may have been your very specific experience but it is by no means typical. I have been an oncology nurse for over twenty years and can categorically state that head and neck cancer units are no different to any other ward regarding noise levels or numbers of demented patients.

Notanotherflightdelay · 19/02/2020 07:17

but not all HPV head and neck cancers are melanoma

But some are- did I say all? I said I wasn't a doctor.

Please excuse me being blunt but you really are talking a load of bollocks. This may have been your very specific experience but it is by no means typical.

The consultant at one of the largest cancer centres in the UK was of this view about age being relevant- much less likely in younger people. Are you saying that statistically it isn't older men rather than young men? That would seem odd for any cancer?

The wards were predominantly all men over 75. Not all had dementia-- but I didn't say that they did. but every ward that he has been on has had at least 1 person with dementia- they make it very hard to sleep as they are out of routine. The nursing staff said that the dementia was a greater challenge than the cancer.

I notice that you didn't actually offer the OP any advice- you just had a go at me.

Original poster

PrincessHoneysuckle · 19/02/2020 08:23

I'm in south Yorkshire.The person is 40.

OP posts:

AlexaAmbidextra · 19/02/2020 11:18

HPV caused head and neck cancers are melanomas that go to the lymph in the neck

Nope. I’ve directly quoted you. The above words are yours. You do not say some.

so lots of dementia sufferers who are out of their homes and disorientated.

Now you say but every ward that he has been on has had at least 1 person with dementia.

Which is it? Lots or at least one?

Notanotherflightdelay · 19/02/2020 14:58

Which is it? Lots or at least one?

In a 6 room ward it has varied from 1 to 3. Never been on a ward with none. Did that help?

You still haven't given the OP any help though - have you?

Notanotherflightdelay · 19/02/2020 15:01

I'm in south Yorkshire.The person is 40.

Are they in sheffield or Leeds for treatment?
My relative is in Leeds at the moment having treatment.

Notanotherflightdelay · 19/02/2020 15:03

In a 6 room ward it has varied from 1 to 3. Never been on a ward with none. Did that help?

Apologies- in a 6 BED ward it has varied from 1 to 3. That is quite a challenge when you are ill- basically having to be alert for other patients. Some have their carers with them in the day.

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