Melenoma

[Springchicken]

What is it?

SIL's mum had a lump on her knee, went to doc's, referred to hosp etc......in end was diagnosed as a Melenoma. Has a scan etc etc decided it needed to be removed, so she had an operation to have it removed and it is away being tested (i think).

Have just had a call from my mum to say that doctors have today told SIL's mum that they have found mor elumps in her groin, her lymphatic gland i think she said. My brother has asked that no-one mentions i to SIL yet, needs some time for it to sink in but mum said it didn't sound too good.
Now my mum has come through brain cancer and cancer of the blood so when she says things don't look too good, it makes me panic.
I don't really understand the whole things and what Melenoma is but doctors have told SIL and her 2 sisters that they must get checked ASAP as it is terribly heriditary (sp?)

melenoma is a form of skin cancer. often it occurs if a mole changes and becomes cancerous. the likelyhood of getting it can be raised if you have a family member with it, but this isn't 100% sure, it is a raised risk.

they should be very careful in the sun and should report any change in a mole to a doc asap. and so should we all.

it can be a ery agressive form of cancer but there are new treatments.

Oh shit. My SIL is covered in them. We call them her coco pops as a pet name.
She told me she had already arranged to see the doctor tomorrow and was going to ask him about them.

Why ? I just don't understand why people ahve to go through this. I've been through it enough with several members of my family and it is so unbelievably hard. I don't want her to have to go through what I've een through

Please don't panic. An ordinary mole is just fine, it is only when they change that they become a problem. Honest!

For example dh has moles, I keep an eye on them and he is very careful in the sun, but he doesn't have melenoma (he has leukemia but that is a different story!) his father died of melanoma and so dh is careful.

Moles do not = melanoma

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Things to look out for (and these need diagnosis by a doc so don't go panicing!) are Change is size, change in shape, change in colour, bleeding or itching.

As with all cancers the earlier you get treatment the better the survivale rates

Oh, SC. Poor SIL. I have to say, if it has spread to her lymph glands it isn't good news. She will be in for the long haul, although I don't know of treatments, just that it's always hoped that cancers won't spread to these parts.

How old is she?

She is 62 i think Flossam. My SIL is 36 but has never ever experienced anything like this. She has never had a poorly member of family, no one close to her has ever passed away.
I was pretty sure how grim it could get if it has spread to her lymph glands, my FIL passed away in 2001 from lung cancer which has spread up to his neck (lymph glands).

SIL has a coco pop on her back which has like black dots in it, like someone has poked her with a prencil all over it. And she is a total sun worshiper.

And don't panic about you sil.....she may very well be 100% OK. She will have to kick the sun worshiping right into touch tho.

I missed that it was here mum. HOpe SIL is ok, if she gets checked out. Sure all will be fine. Sad news for mum though.

Springchicken, just wanted to say that it could still be okay. My sis had a melanoma removed from her arm about 15yrs ago. It then spread to the lymph nodes two or three yrs later and she had an op to remove them. Apart from an experimental regime of tamoxifen she had no other treatment and has been fine for the past 12yrs ago! Best wishes to your SIL's mum.

I had a melanoma removed this year. IT was v. scary and I waas lucky becaues they caught it very early. Once in the lymph nodes it can still be ahlted by removing the nodes.

I sought help from Cancer Bacup and also from teh Cancer Counselling Trust, which really got me through it.

Everyone should check their moles, be vigilant and stay out of the sun. Even people with dark skin - 20% of melanoma cases happen to black people.

Not all moles are melanomas, as someone has pointed out. A person can be covered in moles and not develop melanoma, although it is more common in people w/many moles or freckles, particularly w/a history of sun damage.

Melanoma IS the most serious of skin cancers one can develop, however. It can be quite aggressive and as the skin is not the thickest of the organs it is easier for it to metastisise (spread).

If caught before it spreads, treatment is VERY effective.

Afterwards, well, that's best discussed with an oncologist.

Good luck to your SIL!

I had melanoma 4 years ago and was preg at the time so was particularly worried .In thge end I had it r3emoved (from my ear) and a biopsy done, then later (8 months preg) I had a larger incision.
Since then I have had regular check ups and more removed but no return so far.

Charaacteristics of melanoma include;
uneven edges, dark(going black) , bleeding, change in size

BUT IME get any checked if you are unsure .

Well SIL went to doc's. She has to have all moles removed as a precautionary measure but there is 1 in particular (the one i described yesterday), which is causing particular concern.
She has gone private and has a Consultant appt. 4th October (otherwise would've had to wait 12 weeks), where she will have a biopsy on it.

I haven't spoken to her yet, I left a message with my brother asking her to call me but she obviously doesn't feel up to it yet. I just want her to know that I am thinking of her

Why 12 weeks?
I thought Gov't regs you had to be seen within 2 weeks?

Her doctor said there is a wait of 12 weeks at her local NHS Hospital.

Meant to say last night, thanks for all your messages, I know things could still be early days it sjust hard not to automatically think the worst.

Twelve weeks?! That's absolutely DISGUSTING! Melanoma is NOT a slow-growing cancer and needs to be treated seriously and aggressively.

absolutly disgusted at 12 weeks!

bump, springchicken, how is your SIL mum now?