Has anybody ever had treatment for skin Malignant Melanoma?

[PoppyAnna]

I've found out today that I have a few random Malignant Melanoma one of which on my arm has turned a bit itchy and sore.

The GP confirmed it this morning after I initialy seeing him over the christmas period and said I will get a letter from the Hospital within seven days about treatment.

I was wondering what was involed with regards to treatment and was wondering if and DISer's had suffered with this in the past.

I am covered with Private Healthcare to but I'm not sure it's worth it as they'll probably send me to my local NHS hospital anyway, and the GP said the NHS has a duty to treat me within a certain time frame anyway.

Thanks in advance

 

[CustardTart]

OMG I am sorry, Jo - this must be so worrying for you!!! I don't have any experience in this area, I'm afraid - just wanted to send you plenty of good wishes and hope it gets sorted asap, hun...

And stop reading medical stuff online!!!!

 

[PoppyAnna]

OMG I am sorry, Jo - this must be so worrying for you!!! I don't have any experience in this area, I'm afraid - just wanted to send you plenty of good wishes and hope it gets sorted asap, hun...

And stop reading medical stuff online!!!!

Thanks Karen but honestly I'm not too worried as the GP (Yiu ) didn't seem too worried and they are in "good places" (not near my eyes, joints or glands etc).
TBH I only went about one and he found a few more, and with my freckly skin it's no surprise even though I am careful.

I have stopped reading online now, just the official websites from now on

 

[natalielongstaff]

i agree with Karen hun, ive no personal experience but i think the internet can be a dangerous tool at this point

hope you get an appt fast xxx

 

[jamjar84]

I've had a benign lump removed from my shoulder, which was day surgery and two weeks of no lifting (incase I ruptured the stitches) I was seen within about two weeks I think, and they didn't even know if it was a cancerous mole or not, it was removed for precautionary reasons, thankfully it turned out not to be malignant, but having it removed was a precaution as it may have developed in the future.

My dad had a malignant melenoma removed from his nose, he'd had a lump on his nose for a while, got it checked and they found it to be malignant, he went into hospital (NHS because it was just as quick as using his private cover) and was in and out in the same day. Because it was just in that area he needed no further treatment and has been fine ever since.

My mum works in dermatology so sends us to get everything checked. I don't know very much about it tbh, but in my (limited) experience it's a relatively simple procedure. I hope everything goes well for you.

 

[mandymouse]

Oh hun, I hope your appointment comes through soon. Sorry I've got no advice, but just wanted to send you a hug

 

[PoppyAnna]

i agree with Karen hun, ive no personal experience but i think the internet can be a dangerous tool at this point

hope you get an appt fast xxx

I know, you're right. Thanks Nat.

I've had a benign lump removed from my shoulder, which was day surgery and two weeks of no lifting (incase I ruptured the stitches) I was seen within about two weeks I think, and they didn't even know if it was a cancerous mole or not, it was removed for precautionary reasons, thankfully it turned out not to be malignant, but having it removed was a precaution as it may have developed in the future.

Thanks, thats interesting, one thing they are concerned about is the fact that I have had two benign lumps (one back and one neck) removed in the last five years (both came up during pregnancy ) and one of the Malignant beasties is right in the middle of the scar tissue on my back.

I've called Bupa and they fobbed me off a bit asking me to wait for my hospital letter. My GP wasn't agaisnt me calling Bupa but did say that he doubted any of the local private hospitals in my area would be able to offer me ongoing treatment and I might have to go to Central London if treated privately, TBH I don't think it's worth it and will stick with the NHS for the time being

Oh hun, I hope your appointment comes through soon. Sorry I've got no advice, but just wanted to send you a hug

Cheers Mandy.

 

[Pinky166]

No advice i'm afraid just lots of hugs.

 

[jjk]

sorry havent any advice Joanne,just lots of

 

[wideeyes]

hope it goes okay and you get seen quickly.

I had a section of skin removed from my face by excision about 18months ago after I saw a gp he referred me to a consultant, they cut right through all the layers of skin and a plastic surgery(because it was on my face) stitched it together again so can hardly see the scarring. I didn't need any futher treatment, I hope you don't need anything more than an excision too.

 

[Dimplenose]

DH was successfully treated cancer 16 years ago. We too had private health care but the NHS moved so fast that we didn't even think of using it. Much later on (when it was too late to claim) we found he would have been entitled to a payment because he used NHS instead of claiming for private treatment, so that might be worth looking into.

I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

 

[silver apple]

 

[saratogagirl]

no advice Joanne, just a huge hug, and very pleased to hear you have stopped looking at the internet sites xxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[joolz1910]

My friend had one removed from the area above her eyebrow. She has to keep out of the sun, so wears sun-block, hat and huge sunglasses. I hope everything goes well and you are seen quickly.

 

[florida sun]

for you

 

[Snowy-girls]

Hi Joanne,sorry to hear this .
Firstly i would like to say everyone has these procedures treated slightly differently but i would like to give you my story........
I have had 8 Malignant Melanoma's and all have been removed(3 on my back,1 on my neck,1 on my scalp,2 on my forehead+1 on my face-they were not all done at the same time).They were all done as a day surgery-they were removed by numbing the area with needles,then were cut out-they cut out a slighly larger area than the moles and did go in pretty deep.The area was then courterised(spell?)and was sewn up.The one on my face was done by a specialist to avoid scaring(although i was left with a slight scar but nothing that anyone can see as the rim of my glasses hides it).
I waited aprox 4 weeks for the results after each procedure,and thankfully did'nt need any further treatment.As Claire(wideyes)said i also hope that,you will need no further treatment.

What i was told was not to really go in the sun,but if i was to then i had to use a factor 50 cream and no less.

Hope this helps you a little .x.

 

[Cyrano]

Joanne sending you

 

[PoppyAnna]

hope it goes okay and you get seen quickly.

I had a section of skin removed from my face by excision about 18months ago after I saw a gp he referred me to a consultant, they cut right through all the layers of skin and a plastic surgery(because it was on my face) stitched it together again so can hardly see the scarring. I didn't need any futher treatment, I hope you don't need anything more than an excision too.

DH was successfully treated cancer 16 years ago. We too had private health care but the NHS moved so fast that we didn't even think of using it. Much later on (when it was too late to claim) we found he would have been entitled to a payment because he used NHS instead of claiming for private treatment, so that might be worth looking into.

I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

Hi Joanne,sorry to hear this .
Firstly i would like to say everyone has these procedures treated slightly differently but i would like to give you my story........
I have had 8 Malignant Melanoma's and all have been removed(3 on my back,1 on my neck,1 on my scalp,2 on my forehead+1 on my face-they were not all done at the same time).They were all done as a day surgery-they were removed by numbing the area with needles,then were cut out-they cut out a slighly larger area than the moles and did go in pretty deep.The area was then courterised(spell?)and was sewn up.The one on my face was done by a specialist to avoid scaring(although i was left with a slight scar but nothing that anyone can see as the rim of my glasses hides it).
I waited aprox 4 weeks for the results after each procedure,and thankfully did'nt need any further treatment.As Claire(wideyes)said i also hope that,you will need no further treatment.

What i was told was not to really go in the sun,but if i was to then i had to use a factor 50 cream and no less.

Hope this helps you a little .x.

Thanks for your input Claire, Libby and Michelle that's very helpful.

Thanks everybody else for your good wishes.
As I thought these things are pretty common and I feel I'm lucky that none are on my face or anywhere else particularly visable in normal clothing, two of them are quite big but are well hidden.

It's the waiting I'm not very good at

 

[jamjar84]

Now that you mention it, I have heard of people getting moles and things during pregnancy, I am currently expecting my second child and a mole on my neck has been more itchy since I've been pregnant, could be a coincidence, but it might be worth me asking about it, thanks for the heads up.

As you say it's a common thing, and sounds like NHS is the way to go. I have scar tissue on my shoulder, it's not that big a deal, but I was a bit worried about it when I got married, I had to wear my hair down to cover it, but I guess I'm lucky when some of you have had skin removed on your face.

 

[Ware Bears]

for you, Joanne.