Cancer wound

[Imbluedalale]

Anybody want to see my wound on my leg from where they removed my cancer and where I had a skin graft?

You don't need to ask on this board! Post away! 😄

Hope you're feeling ok?

So I will post pics from start to finish . I’ll apologise in advance for my spiky legs .

This is fascinating! Are the first ones the cancer? Which type?
Hope youre recovering well. And thankyou medical science!

Yes the first ones are the cancer . Just started as a small brown freckle . The dermatologist thought I had an infection so put me on antibiotics. She didn’t want to do a biopsy but I insisted to get a second opinion.
It was malignant melanoma.
I had a skin graft taken from my right leg and also had my lymph nodes removed.
I am recovering well thank you I’m now in remission.

So pleased you're in remission. Thanks for the photos. Is it just me, or does the last one looked like a slice of aubergine? 🤣

Wow thanks for sharing. Fascinating. Out of interest how long did it take for the freckle to look like it does in the first 2 photos? And how did your right leg heal from taking the graft? Wishing a good and full recovery!

How are you coping with the damage to your leg mentally? I have a similar chunk of lower leg missing from a cat bite & sometimes find it hard! I had a skin graft too!

And just to add I am so pleased you are in remission!

Wow, that's quite alarming how large an area they removed! Was it very painful while it was healing?

And the graft they took from the other leg, how big was that? (am I right in thinking they sort of 'perforate' the skin they take for the graft so it can fill a bigger hole that they take it from?)

Eta: Sorry posted too soon!

How long was the healing process? It looks like quite a significant wound, I'd imagine it took a while to heal?

Really glad you're now in remission, it must have been really scary

Ha ha yes it does . My brother said at the time it looked like a squashed marshmallow. The pic where the skin graft was on .

Looks like they have done a great job! I hope you heal quickly and remain healthy.

No problem Flux.
So a tiny brown freckle appeared about 3/4 months prior and in that time it got darker and bigger and sometimes bled . When I went to the doctors the first time she didn’t think it was anything suspicious. After the doctor sent photos to the dermatologist they wanted to see me but they said that it definitely wasn’t cancer and I had an infection so put me on antibiotics. 3 weeks later I went back and the dermatologist still wasn’t keen on doing a biopsy so I asked for a second opinion. The other dermatologist said to do a biopsy just in case . Which I’m glad they did as 3 weeks from that I got told it was melanoma .
Unfortunately the operation I had they wasn’t able to put me to sleep as I had 5 broken ribs at the time so I had to have it awake . I will never forget the smell of burning skin as they took the skin graft.
the skin graft actually hurt more than the actually cancer site .

Mentally I’m not coping well. I’m very embarrassed and self conscious now of my legs . I never get my legs out anymore which is hard when it’s hot .

Yes it was very painful and I wasn’t well either so was in and out of hospital.
On one emergency admission they took my skin graft dressing off and washed it ! Wow I’ll never forget that pain. But then when I went to get my dressings changed at the actual hospital I had the operation they wasn’t very happy as apparently you had to keep the skin graft area dry.
It was a long painful recovery really. I used to have a really high pain threshold but now I don’t .
Id say the healing process was about 4/5 months all in all. They do take a bigger patch of skin for the skin graft . I’ve added pictures of this above .
I was really surprised myself how large the area was tbh and very shocked . Because the Breslow thickness was quite thick they had to remember 3cm around the cancer site .

Thank you @Francestein . I’m doing ok psychically thank you xx

I understand the emotional/psychological side too.
i hope you have good support and can access counselling if necessary.

@Imbluedalale thanks for answering, it sound like it's been a very hard time for you and I wish you all the very best for your continued recovery

Those photos made me smile I have lots of photos of my leg in the air!

feel the same about mine, wearing maxi dresses!

i couldn’t look at my leg for months, used to put the E45 cream on by feel because i just couldn’t bear to look at it!

When I went in for my op they spent ages telling me about the scarring from the graft site and how they would take it from the as high up my leg as possible but no one told me I was going to be left with a 3 inch hole in my shin from the actual wound!

i’m 2 years in so feeling slightly better about it but it’s still hard - you have my total sympathy.

I also agree about the pain & long healing time, I’m in my late 50’s & really struggling to get my fitness back!

well done you for pushing for a second opinion, you’re very brave.

Thanks for sharing the pictures, I found this by searching for ‘skin graft’. I’ve just had one a week ago on my leg.

How are you doing Mustard? I hope you aren’t in too much pain.

Very informative pictures. Thanks for sharing. Did the freckles itch? Hope you’re feeling better x

Thank you ☺️. I have a good cancer nurse and a good mental health team . I had a very traumatic year last year both mentally and psychically but I’m still here and it really does make you appreciate the small things in life . It’s definitely made me more resilient that’s for sure.

Thank you @GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut . I love your name btw . 🥰🥰

Thank you @rockstarshoes .
Im sorry you went through that too but glad your starting to feel better .
You’re so right tho it is hard . I’m so self conscious of my scars . Mainly the left leg where the cancer was . I struggle to look at it myself .
I too was very shocked at how big the wound was . I’m really hoping it doesn’t come back .

Sending lots of love @Mustardfan . How are you feeling ?