Melanoma third time round

[daisypond]

DH was diagnosed with melanoma stage one on his torso in March and it was surgically removed. About a month later I spotted something else odd by his hairline on his scalp. The hospital thought it was nothing but did a biopsy. Also stage one melanoma. Was surgically removed and a lymph node biopsy done. It had not spread to lymph node. I’ve now spotted a huge melanoma - about an inch big- on the top of his scalp under his hair. No idea how long it’s been there for. Hospital are seeing him on Friday. I am sure this is melanoma. It had all the classic signs. This will be the third separate diagnosis in six months. I’m scared and now have doubts about the hospital. How can they have missed seeing the second two after he was seen for the first one? They just didn’t look at his scalp at all. And when melanoma two was identified on the scalp, why didn’t they further check the scalp for any more? This one looks really serious, much much worse than the other two. Has anyone had anything like this?

My dad had a huge melanoma on his scalp around 30 years ago (he's still with us!) It was before melanoma was talked about so much and we didn't know what it was but it looked really sinister.

Anyway it turned out to be a superficial spreading one. It was removed and there were no further problems.

Hope this helps.

Ok, thank you for that positive news. Biopsy has been done today. I find it a little worrying how reluctant they are to biopsy. The first two incidences of melanoma he had they didn’t think were anything bad and weren’t keen to biopsy them, and both turned out to be melanoma. It just makes me doubt everything they say, and they’re the experts.

Good job you are there to keep pushing this forward.
I hate to say it, but my faith in the medical profession isn't always 100% either after a few 'cock ups'.
It was instilled in us growing up the doctor knows best. But they are only human too. Double check what you can and if you need reassurance, ask as many professionals in the care team as possible .

I've had 2 melanomas, one at 26 and one at 52. I have to say, both times I was told they were probably nothing to worry about but then turned out to be. Every skin blip I get now I monitor, and if I'm anxious I go and get a derm referral and explain that both of mine were atypical blah blah.

For your DH: stage one is perfectly manageable, my first was a stage 3 and I've reached the grand old age of 58!! So I really do get your worries, and wish you both the best of luck.

A reluctance to biopsy at this point with your DH's history would have me looking for an alternative clinic/practitioner. I am in Aus so melanoma is a biggie, I have a couple of friends who are always getting things cut out of them and everything is biopsied as a matter of course. Some people just seem prone to it - I hope it's good news for your DH.

Where are you? I am with Guy’s and get excellent care and very thorough checks. My Mum is at the Royal Berks and they just give her a cursory glance, which has meant that they have missed a couple, plus a squamous cell carcinoma. I do wonder if they bother less as she is in her 80s.

Hi OP, I’m not a dermatologist but I know with melanoma it’s not about breadth but depth. Just because it looks large on the surface doesn’t mean it’s deeper than 1mm.
Is it bleeding or itchy?

This is an old post

So it is!