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.

Hi @scochran I am also planning to continue with private checks once I am discharged by the NHS.

Can I ask you how you chose your private dermatologist?

Also re the mole mapping - is this done by the same dermatologist or do you go somewhere else for this?

I got some bupa care through a work arrangement but they don't cover checks. I stuck with the bupa consultant I first saw and he happened to run the mole mapping service in another hospital.
Nhs checks were for a year but cancelled during covid . It was still so new I couldn't bear to go without checks, though now I know more about checking my skin and lymph nodes I would probably be ok
It does get better!
I know there are clinics like SKIN who do mole checks but I'd stick with hospital situated consultants I think.
My next check is next week and I feel if there is anything else to come I will find it early which, we will both know now, is the most important thing.
Good luck with your plans, that fb page really is good. Also an organization called Melanomame has info and a help line for all the questions. They are lovely

Thank you @scochran. Sorry for another question, but how did you learn how to check your lymph nodes? Can you point me to any resources so I can learn how to do this?

Well, I'm the worst person in the world to ask because I panic every time I try to feel them! And at every appointment they would poke about and say how much they could feel them which terrified me. Before i got t discharged they ultrasounded them all seemed them ok but pokey so I just don't do it now, I only ask them to check at my appointments. I know from my fb group that not all dermatologists check them but I think the guidance says they should. It's all quite confusing and I've often asked others for their advice/ experiences.
When I googled lots of info said you shouldn't be able to feel them but my consultant says it really depends on body type and area. Lymph nodes also go up with lots of common infections and even covid jag reactions. I'm leaving it to the specialists. There is a YouTube video about by dermatology specialist about lymph nodes, it's a pinned post fb group.
I fortunately/ unfortunately needed MRI and ct recently for other problems so know that, so far, nothing has spread which makes me feel good. It is not likely to at stage 1a anyway.

Ok thanks @scochran

@sunflowerdaisies sending you best wishes for your WLE today

@Apecks1eg thank you, I'm going in later this afternoon.

@Apecks1eg @GlencoraP any dates yet? Hope you're both ok.

I saw surgeon today, skin graft healing well but second melanoma found so finger might be amputated after all. Another wait for second opinion and MDT meeting. Been a painful week, fingers are sensitive.

My appointment is Friday morning , have to do a Covid test 24 hours before and go alone . So sorry to hear about the second melanoma sunflowers, how did they find it?

Distracting myself with mumsnet, cleaning the grout in the shower and about to walk the dog but I am finding it quite hard .

@GlencoraP glad you have a date and you can hopefully have your mind put at rest, or at least crack on getting it sorted. A new lesion appeared after the biopsy which was quick and weird, a bit further towards the fingertip, under where the nail would normally be (mine was removed in biopsy).

Hi @sunflowerdaisies sorry to hear about your 2nd melanoma and more waiting. Glad it was found quickly & your skin graft is healing well. Hope it is dealt with quickly for you.

Hi @GlencoraP all the best for your appt on Friday.

I had an appt today with the plastic surgeon. He was very nice. I should have my surgery sometime in the next 4 weeks - excision & skin graft.

Sending you both best wishes. Let me know how you both get on.

@GlencoraP I hope it goes ok today.

@Apecks1eg hopefully not too long a wait to have the surgery. My skin graft donor site hasn't hurt at all and scar looking neat, no dressing for that now.

I didn't need skin graft on my thigh but can honestly say my wider local excision, although big, did not cause any pain during or after.
I had my 3 monthly skin check yesterday and all good.
Good luck to all!

Appointment was fine , walked the length of the hospital , from dermatology to the clinical photography dept and back . Have to go back on 23rd to have it excised and they will then recall me if further treatment needed .

Hi @scochran glad to hear all good at your check

Hi @GlencoraP glad you had appt, best wishes for the 23rd!

Hi @sunflowerdaisies reassuring to know your skin graft has been ok. I’m impatient to get the surgery done now, but nervous too.

@Apecks1eg totally with you there. I'm really nervous about the thought of losing my finger, both the op and the longer term impact. It's just rubbish isn't it!

Feel lucky it's 1a, but still a lot to deal with.

@sunflowerdaisies I can only imagine how daunting that must be. I hope it all works OK, & I think focusing on the positives of stage 1A is the way to go when we can. Sending you good wishes for your next appointment.

@Apecks1eg have you got a date for your surgery yet? Hope you're ok.

@GlencoraP I hope yours goes well tomorrow and results are quick.

I'm still waiting on second pathology opinion.

@sunflowerdaisies I should be having my surgery next Weds 28/7. Have to have a COVID test on Sunday so hoping that’s negative as cases seem to be going up here. Hope you get your pathology results soon - any idea how much longer you need to wait?

@GlencoraP best wishes for tomorrow.

@Apecks1eg glad you have a date. Hopefully covid test negative. How are you feeling about the surgery?

Could be any day now, was three weeks last time as it's over that now. Find the waiting horrible.

@sunflowerdaisies - thanks. I am looking forward to getting it over & done with 😄

The waiting is really hard isn’t it. Hope you get good results soon, let me know how you get on if you can

@Apecks1eg thank you and good luck to you too. I will
Admit to being a bit nervous , it looks a bit bigger to me and has been quite itchy in the heat but I am sure I am imagining things . Just want to get it over with really .

@GlencoraP hope it went ok. How are you?

@sunflowerdaisies , it was fine , it’s a bit sore because it’s in an awkward place and I was surprised the stitches have to be removed I thought they would dissolving , also no shower for two days or swimming for a week not sure why but I hadn’t really thought about the logistics! 4 week wait for the result of the biopsy.