UK Skin Cancer and Melanoma Patients

[worriedmum]

Oh it is good to have found a forum at last! What a club to join, eh? I was diagnosed with 0.6mm SSM on my thigh a couple of years ago now. As, like so many of us, I had a new baby and a toddler at the time, it was quite a rollercoaster. I had a WLE and a few other "odd" moles removed and was told to go away and enjoy life (apart of course from the 3 month check ups). At my last appointment, I noticed the doctor didn't really want to look at the MM scar site and he just glanced at it (all he wanted to do was look at the site of a benign mole excision on my foot). The very next day I found a small, new, black mole/lump/pimple about 2 -3 inches from my scar site. I ummed and ahhed for a bit but, a month later, I gave up on the sleepness nights and got an urgent appointment at the clinic. Yes, said head surgeon bod, looks like a MM, don't think it's related to the other, we'll get rid of it in a few days. Having spent the previous month looking at dire statistics for local recurrence, this was a relief. Then, last week, I had this "new" one removed. 2 surgeons looked at it that day, both said yeah, that's a melanoma. But the second one, who removed it, felt it could well be a recurrence and started the old skin graft/flap talk. Back to the sleepless nights! Can anyone with experience of either a new primary near the original site, or a local recurrence, give any indication of how I can tell the difference (I know it's only best guess!), or is histology the only answer? My results took 5 weeks last time
I have to say I have never had a bad sunburn, but am VERY "moley" - over 100 per arm - and many are dysplastic. All genetic in my case.

[wilster]

Hi worriedmum
I don't think the doctors really know until the results come back whether any mole removed is a melanoma. My MM was like yours, 0.6mm on my thigh and the doctor was 'convinced' it was nothing to worry about but took it off only as I had a history of living abroad in a hot country when young. Like you, I have two children so I can imagine how you are feeling but try to keep it in perspective for the moment (hard I know). It may not be malignant, especially as you have so many other benign moles. Good luck
Sonya

[seanty]

Histopathology is the only sure thing, and even then it's not THAT sure.Hope it isn't as the surgeons fear.

[Pip]

Hi worriedmum

My husbands second melanoma was near his first. It appeared as a gnat bite lookalike. It was indeed another malignancy but the pathology report showed it to be a new one.Not a recurrence.
I honestly dont know which is the best result in these circumstances. We are now aware that something is going on/in his body to continue to have new MMs.That just keeps us on our toes with observation (but can at times make us neurotic).
The results at our hospital take a long time (3-5 weeks) because they have 3 pathologists to look at the tissue removed and a meeting with the Consultant.we have now guessed that if he doesnt get a phone call within 2 weeks that we are looking at MM or dysplastic. Either way there is surgery involved.
Pleased you have found this forum. They are a great bunch here and will help in anyway they can. Keep us informed.
Love Pip xx

[worriedmum]

Thank you all so much for taking the trouble to reply. Pip, I've been given the impression by the doctors that new MMs are the "better" option... though quite how they tell the difference, unless it's a different kind or the new one is only "in situ" is a mystery to me, hence my post. My new one was very black... I bet I'm not the only one furiously checking my lymph nodes endlessly and generally behaving like the world's greatest hypochondriac, what a hateful disease.

[worriedmum]

Just in case anyone browses this and is in the same position, a lot of phone calls and chasing up today yielded great news... it may have been only a few cm from the last melanoma, it may have looked the same and fooled the surgeon... but they are CERTAIN it isn't the same thing back again... still not sure if it's a new one at a very early stage, but do know there is no need to go into TOTAL meltdown if I see another lesion that looks the same in future... may everyone reading this post hear similarly good news soon! xx

[Pip]

Great news worriedmum. I am so pleased to read your post tonight. Wishing you well.