Malignant melanoma

I've no experience, but wanted to say I'm sorry you've got this so soon after the breast cancer.

No experience growstuff sending you (((hugs)))

So sorry to read this growstuff. As a two-times breast cancer survivor myself, I feel for you.

My husband was diagnosed with Melanoma in July his was stage 2a this was followed up with a wider incision which thankfully showed no further cancer cells. He was also offered a sentinel lobe biopsy at Addenbrooks to check if anything was present there he decided against that due to the risk of lymphadema and also a general anesthetic. He will shortly have a scan of his lymph nodes.

My sister was diagnosed a year ago. She has never said the stage - and I am reluctant to ask her. She has had numerous scans as well of course it’s removal (on the top of her head).

At present she is about a third of the way through “infusions’” received every forth week over a year. These are accompanied by scans every three months I think. The effects are accumulative, and she has had muscular pain, for which she receives steroids.

No advice but I’m sending to you, Growstuff and hope that it’s been caught v early.

Thanks for all the good wishes.

I'm being treated at Addenbrookes too. They treated my breast cancer and I've already had a lymph node in my left armpit removed. The consultant said something about a sentinel lobe biopsy, but I'm wondering which side it will be on - I should have asked.

A good friend had a MM removed from her calf 10 years ago. It was Stage 3a. Treated at the Christie and was discharged after 5 years. She is 75 now and doing well. I hope the same for you growstuff. The word cancer just strikes terror doesn’t it? But treatments these days are pretty darned amazing. All the best. x

Addenbrookes has such a good reputation across the NHS, you couldnt be at a better place and with grade 1a you have the lowest risk melanoma.
It is a nasty diagnosis but getting it early is the key and you have done that. I do hope all goes well

I had one on my back earlier this year. My dermatologist didn't like the look of it, took it out and sent it for a biopsy. When the malignant melanoma was confirmed I had surgery under local anaesthetic where they took another 2cm all around. A second biopsy showed no spread including in local lymph nodes so I just have to see my dermatologist every six months for a check-up. I found the Australian websites very informative on the treatment protocols.

Thanks for the tip about Australian websites Mamie. The surgeon who did my biopsy was Australian. He said that melanoma is increasing more rapidly in the UK than in Australia - I guess Australians are more clued up about it than we are. I'm not a great sun-worshipper, but I do remember being burnt quite badly a few times as a child and apparently that's when the damage is done.

My youngest daughter had a mole removed from her face during Covid. It turned out to be MM and she had another operation to take a larger area away plus she had a sentinel node removed from her neck.
Luckily it hadn't spread but unfortunately the scarring on her face is quite extensive. Over the last few years it has faded but is still noticable.
She has regular appointments with her dermatologist and with the plastic surgeon who carried out the operations.
Growstuff I wish you well and a speedy recovery xx

The consultant dermatologist I worked with as his PA always recommended this website to his patients:
www.nzdsi.org/

Find the A-Z of conditions:
dermnetnz.org/topics

growstuff - be positive. A friend of mine had an MM on the side of her nose. There’s a slight scar but she is fine. She had checkups for 5 years and is absolutely fine - 83 now.
Good luck 🍀

Thanks Sar53. Mine is on my back, so I can't see it myself and I'm not too bothered about the scar, although my biopsy scar is itching like mad and I'd love to be able to scratch it. I feel for people who have scars in more noticeable places.

Oh b****er- but stage A1 means it has been caught early- and the prognosis is very good, thank goodness.

Fleurpepper

Oh b****er- but stage A1 means it has been caught early- and the prognosis is very good, thank goodness.

That's what I'm telling myself. I couldn't really ask for better treatment, but I'm beginning to think I should take up residence in the hospital. :-(

My sister (a GP) noticed the 'mole' on the back of my neck and told me to see my GP who promptly sent me to the dermatologist at the local hospital. A biopsy was done and soon afterwards I was sent to the Christie Hospital to have it excised, along with a chunk of surrounding muscle. It was very quickly done in Out Patients and in the end, I was informed that it was the thinnest melanoma they had ever seen. No further treatment was needed and I had my sister to thank for potentially saving my life.

My daughter was diagnosed with MM on her foot 3+ years ago.
It was a mole on the top of her foot. They took a great deal away and had Immunotherapy for a year, which caused her to have multiple problems with her health for the last two years and is on steroids. She has regular scans and lots of appointments, which are often cancelled and postponed.

I hope all goes well for you. As said youve caught it early. Good luck.🙏

Good luck 🤞 growstuff. Am hoping and praying you get a good prognosis.
🌺🌺🙏🏾

It sounds as if it's been caught early growstuff and they are being very thorough.
Best wishes

It would have been caught earlier if it hadn't been for Covid. I went to the GP about it during lockdown (yes, I got a f2f appointment), had it examined and a photo sent off and was told it wasn't malignant. However, I was told that if it weren't for Covid, it would have been removed. But that's in the past and nothing I can do about it now - just glad I kept an eye on it (even if it's on my back, so I can't see it directly).

Oh no growstuff sorry to see your news ,as others have said it's been caught early ,hope all goes well .