Melanoma

[MrsWOLF1]

My husband was diagnosed the week before Christmas with melanoma. Back story we live in France and 4 weeks our mt ( gp) sent a photo of a Basel cell carcinoma to the hospital. We got a call to give us an rdv ( appointment) three days later .The doctor confirmed two basel cell carcinomas and biopsy one and the other we go back on the 3rd January. Then came the utter shock that a small brown / black mark on his arm looked like a melanoma, more cutting , biopsy and stiches .We got a call to go in just before Christmas where the diagnosis was confirmed. Site reopened and lots cut out as well as a margin of skin / tissue Stiches etc .right now its hospital every three months for three years .It all seems such a blur

Bonjour! I’m in France too. I’m currently in the cancer club for breast , waiting for the treatment plan. It’s horrible having a cancer diagnosis it just shakes everything up doesn’t it?
They sound like they got on to it pretty quickly which is good .
Sending you a big warm handhold , bon courage.

Is he having any treatment? It sounds like quite a positive prognosis if they are only seeing him every 3 months for 3 years.

I was diagnosed with melanoma 18 months ago. Stage 3c, the original lesion plus had spread locally to a lymph node so had all that removed plus another 63 lymph nodes. 12 months of treatment and now scans every 3 months for the next 4 years.

It is scary. Realistically, for my stage, the 10 year survival is about 50%. But the treatments today are excellent compared to what they were 10, 20 years ago. The one thing I would say to him is do not be afraid to speak up about anything that is worrying him. If his gut says something doesn’t look or feel right, get it checked. It’s never too much bother. It’s important to stay on top of it and not delay getting something looked at.

Also, do reach out and find other people going through the same. He may not want to identify too much as someone with cancer if he is stage 1/2 as it’s a bit of a different ball game, but I found that joining a support group and making friends my age in the same boat has been really beneficial.

He is not coping at all , he can't remember what stage she said he was at .His french is not as good as mine so im going to see if they will speak to me on 13th January, when we are back there again for mutiple Basel cell removals. He is also extremely tired which is unlike him and no appetite, im thinking that these reactions are stress related

I had one. Found whilst still in situ (stage 1 I think.) . Ie original biopsy confirmed melanoma, but no trace in the skin which was then taken from the margins. This means it was caught before it spread to the lymph nodes. No further treatment - just regular checks.

And a shout out for the Mole Clinic who spotted mine. A brown patch of skin on my back looked a bit odd, and I had just read an article about them so booked on-line to be seen by a specialist nurse the next day. She sent off photos and two days later her concerns were confirmed by one of their doctors. A further two days later and I was seen by a consultant who did the biopsy immediately. Apparently I was very very lucky it was caught before it had spread elsewhere, and it all happened so quickly that I did not have time to worry.

They have several clinics in Central London and elsewhere. Looking at a single mole is cheaper than a full body check, and worth it if you want peace of mind. Who knows what would have happened if I had not spotted the article and the mole at the same time.

I continue to pay for checks, seeing it as a bit like going to the hairdresser or hygienist. I feel more comfortable being examined by someone who is looking at skin day in, day out, than by a GP who may not have the most up to date kit. (Plus I failed to get a referral for regular full body checks.) I used to live in the tropics and have Celtic genes so since then I have had more or less a full bingo card of basel cell, etc. No more melanomas thank goodness.

Hi, I usually go with DH ( this is my third run in with BC) and the dr just talks to both of us. Normally your MT will have received the notes from the hospital ( compte rendu) so why not make an appointment together and see them in the meantime ? They will be able to explain things a bit more and maybe reassure your DH .

Sorry to hear of others going through this. I’ve just had my second diagnosis of melenoma (insitu). Last one was a few years ago and my threat level faded after wider excision then a few moles taken for biopsy that returned normal. This one shocked and upset me out of the blue. It’s on my arm and I had been looking at it and wondering if getting darker for about 6month. Kicking myself now for not acting sooner but still caught early.
Trying hard to feel lucky it was found, it’s early and treatable rather than unlucky it’s happened to me again, it’s something I will always worry about the next one.
good luck to all of you and best wishes for your treatment.