Diagnosed with malignant melanoma stage 1A today - anyone else been there & done that?

[Apecks1eg]

Anyone with experience of similar to share?
I’m totally stunned. Waiting now for a wide local excision. Wondering what questions I should be asking & if there are any tests etc I should ask for. Thanks.

Sorry to hear you are having a horrible time. You might get more replies on the Cancer thread. I know there are several melanoma patients there
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I was 1B, had the same surgery, unfortunately in a very awkward area so was sore for a couple of weeks after. Given all clear after a few months when wound had healed. I was given checks at the skin clinic at 6 months intervals for 2 years then discharged. Good luck

A friend was diagnosed with grade 3 melanoma last year. She had a couple of surgeries and some immunotherapy treatment and is doing really well.

Thanks for the responses

@Caselgarcia did you have lymph node biopsy when you had your surgery?

Hi, I have had this also - 10 years ago now. Happy to chat and offer some reassurance - I have PM’d you

Thanks for your messages @Joki!

No, I just had a physical check of my lymph nodes, as there was no swelling and I was 1B, they didn't do a biopsy.

There is a very good immunotherapy (nivolumab) for melanoma now which is showing very promising results

Had stage 1A also. Removed with the wide excision, and checked in clinic for a couple of years, that’s it. Around 15 years ago, no recurrence since.
If you have to have it, this is the best stage to find it!

Thanks for all the reassurance everyone.

I am waiting for a referral for an excision. Feel ridiculously scared , I spent my childhood in a hot country and was either burned or tanned for most of it, which makes me feel like I am a ticking time bomb.

Hi @GlencoraP sorry to hear you are feeling scared. Have you had a biopsy / melanoma diagnosis already, or are you waiting for a mole to be removed & biopsied? Either way happy to provide a virtual hand hold while you are waiting.

Thank you , I’m still waiting for the biopsy stage so it seems very silly to be so scared. But my GP who is really great seemed a bit worried which has worried me. Plus I know I have been ignoring it for a bit which was silly but we have had so much else to worry about.

While there is good immunotherapy for melanoma, for a 1A diagnosis, you aren't going to have more than the surgery, a couple of years of follow up and that's it.

However it is a warning to be absolutely obsessional about sun care from now on.

@GlencoraP is a scary wait, and understandable you are feeling worried. Can you plan some distractions or little treats to take your mind off everything in the meantime? I have a new book and am finally watching a handmaids tale, and just generally trying to focus on other stuff - not easy I know.

It’s good your GP is being so cautious, and going forward you will now be under the care of a dermatologist who can give you expert care whatever your biopsy result. I will keep my fingers crossed all goes well for you.

I hope you're doing ok. I'm also stage 1a and going in on Wednesday for a WLE and skin graft. Mine's in my nail bed so I might have to have an amputation after depending on results of pathology and if the skin graft takes. I had my covid test today, they're doing it with sedation.

Do you know when your WLE is likely to be?

Hi @sunflowerdaisies good luck for Wednesday, l hope it all goes smoothly & you don’t need an amputation. Where is your melanoma? Glad to hear yours is a 1A too - everyone is telling me that this early stage is curable & the prognosis is good, so we need focus on that.

I am waiting for my WLE date. Hoping to get it over & done with ASAP.

All the best for Weds, let me know how you get on.

@Apecks1eg finger nail bed, called subungual melanoma, might need an amputation as they can't get the same margins as they can elsewhere as fingers are small! Where is yours? All the waiting is rubbish!

I agree, the waiting is rubbish!

Mine is on the back of my leg, just above my ankle. It will be done by the plastic surgeons because of the location - the skin is tight there so I may need a skin graft too. I’ve just had a phone with an appt for next Weds - just consultation I think, not actual surgery.

I hope your WLE goes well tomorrow, let me know how you get on.

Thank you for all the support and good luck to all the others on this thread . Am working hard on the distraction !

@Apecks1eg I have a plastic surgeon too, i how it's not a long wait after the consultation!

@GlencoraP I hope your biopsy is soon, did they give you any idea when you'd be having it done?

Within 10 days they said but I am not sure how that works with Covid as I haven’t had any instructions to isolate .

@GlencoraP I didn't haven't to isolate for my biopsy or be covid tested, I have had to test and isolate for 3 days for WLE so maybe you won't need to. Hopefully won't be long.

My Mum had a melanoma on her leg removed (also by plastic surgeon) several years ago. She is fine now, and goes for regular check ups and has fast referral for anything she is worried about. Hope the biopsy goes well for you OP.

I had stage 1 nearly 2 years ago now. My WLE was fine and clear margins. After thatnews I felt great for a bit then did too much googling and felt awful.
It's not helpful how dismissive are about melanoma. It not a cancer people seem to understand, I've had coworkers laughing when I use my factor 50 and call me paranoid.
Anyway, the best way I see it is iwas lucky with early detection and now have private 3 monthly checks as discharged from nhs. I get mole mapping done 1x a year too so I can be aware of any new changes
There is very little chance of recurrence and less of spread at your stage I believe.
There is a helpful fb stage 1 and 2 support page worth looking up. Lots of advice