Newly diagnosed
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Newly diagnosed

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  • Post
    • April 21, 2016 at 9:07 am
    Liisa
    Participant

      Hi everyone!

      I'm new to this forum, have been reading it for a while and decided to join since I haven't found anything alike in my native country (Finland). This seems like a wonderful place to get support and information.

      I was diagnosed about a month ago with a melanoma in situ. It was in a new black mole at the back of my tigh a little above the knee. I've had the WLE done a week ago with 1 cm margins, haven't gotten the results yet. The cut has healed ok.

      Now I've been experiencing slight pains in my tigh and groin, and I think I can feel a lymph node in the groin too. This pain started already after the original biopsy and has been coming and going ever since. I asked my doctor and he said it's nothing to worry about, and today I called an oncology nurse to ask again. She also said I shouldn't worry and that it's most likely just a reaction to the surgeries. I understand that melanoma in situ should not have spread to the lymph nodes and I'm trying really hard to believe that. But you probably know how the fear gets to you:( 

      So I guess I wanted to ask if anyone has experienced similar kind of symptoms? Should I just wait and see how it goes or go to the doctor again. He practically laughed at me when I told about my concerns and said that don't you worry, this has been now dealt with. I sure hope so!

       

      Have a nice day everyone, 

      Liisa

       

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • April 21, 2016 at 12:22 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          Welcome, sorry you had to join here.  Trauma can cause lymph nodes to swell, and you just had a big chunk of skin removed.  That is trauma!  So when you think about it, melanoma in situ has such great survival numbers because there are no blood or lymph vessels located in the epidermis.  And melanoma in situ is confined to the epidermis.  Lymph nodes can take some time to go back to normal after infection and trauma and won't be helped by you poking them.  But honestly, go with the most likely answer and that is your body isn't happy about having a big chunk of skin removed.  Healing can cause all kinds of little pains as severed or stretched nerves try to heal.  If, after a reasonable amount of time, your symptoms  continue to get worse instead of better, then I'd go back to your doctor for a re-evaluation.

          • April 21, 2016 at 12:22 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            Welcome, sorry you had to join here.  Trauma can cause lymph nodes to swell, and you just had a big chunk of skin removed.  That is trauma!  So when you think about it, melanoma in situ has such great survival numbers because there are no blood or lymph vessels located in the epidermis.  And melanoma in situ is confined to the epidermis.  Lymph nodes can take some time to go back to normal after infection and trauma and won't be helped by you poking them.  But honestly, go with the most likely answer and that is your body isn't happy about having a big chunk of skin removed.  Healing can cause all kinds of little pains as severed or stretched nerves try to heal.  If, after a reasonable amount of time, your symptoms  continue to get worse instead of better, then I'd go back to your doctor for a re-evaluation.

              • April 21, 2016 at 2:42 pm
              Liisa
              Participant

                Thanks for the reassurance. All you say makes perfect sense, it's just difficult not to be alarmed about every little thing. I see how it goes and will stop poking!l

                Thanks again,

                Liisa

                • April 21, 2016 at 2:42 pm
                Liisa
                Participant

                  Thanks for the reassurance. All you say makes perfect sense, it's just difficult not to be alarmed about every little thing. I see how it goes and will stop poking!l

                  Thanks again,

                  Liisa

                  • April 21, 2016 at 2:42 pm
                  Liisa
                  Participant

                    Thanks for the reassurance. All you say makes perfect sense, it's just difficult not to be alarmed about every little thing. I see how it goes and will stop poking!l

                    Thanks again,

                    Liisa

                  • April 21, 2016 at 12:22 pm
                  Janner
                  Participant

                    Welcome, sorry you had to join here.  Trauma can cause lymph nodes to swell, and you just had a big chunk of skin removed.  That is trauma!  So when you think about it, melanoma in situ has such great survival numbers because there are no blood or lymph vessels located in the epidermis.  And melanoma in situ is confined to the epidermis.  Lymph nodes can take some time to go back to normal after infection and trauma and won't be helped by you poking them.  But honestly, go with the most likely answer and that is your body isn't happy about having a big chunk of skin removed.  Healing can cause all kinds of little pains as severed or stretched nerves try to heal.  If, after a reasonable amount of time, your symptoms  continue to get worse instead of better, then I'd go back to your doctor for a re-evaluation.

                    • April 21, 2016 at 5:52 pm
                    Mamapegela
                    Participant

                      Hi Lisa-

                      I just want to share my experience so that you have the most information you can to go on.  I had a small mole on my neck first biopsied, then found positive for melanoma, then excised from my neck by WLE in Nov. 2015.  It was small, thin and had clear margins so stage 1, no further treatment indicated.  In March 2016 I noticed an enlarged lymph node in my neck and it has since been biopsied and is positive.  Granted, the time frame is longer for mine (4 mos) than for yours, and as others have said it is most likely due to the surgery, but I think it bears watching since, as my Dr. has said, melanoma "doesn't follow the rules".  

                      It is always better to err on the side of caution in my view, and knowledge is power.

                      Wishing you the very best,

                      Peggy

                      • April 21, 2016 at 5:52 pm
                      Mamapegela
                      Participant

                        Hi Lisa-

                        I just want to share my experience so that you have the most information you can to go on.  I had a small mole on my neck first biopsied, then found positive for melanoma, then excised from my neck by WLE in Nov. 2015.  It was small, thin and had clear margins so stage 1, no further treatment indicated.  In March 2016 I noticed an enlarged lymph node in my neck and it has since been biopsied and is positive.  Granted, the time frame is longer for mine (4 mos) than for yours, and as others have said it is most likely due to the surgery, but I think it bears watching since, as my Dr. has said, melanoma "doesn't follow the rules".  

                        It is always better to err on the side of caution in my view, and knowledge is power.

                        Wishing you the very best,

                        Peggy

                          • May 29, 2016 at 5:33 am
                          abcmom24
                          Participant

                            Lisa,

                            i have had a similar experience. I asked similar question more recently. I am wondering if you are still having pain? If so did you find the reason for it?

                             

                            Peggy,

                            Did you have any other symptoms aside from the swelling of your lymph nodes? I'm just wondering about pain/discomfort?

                            prayers for healing for you both.

                            -Amelia

                             

                            • May 29, 2016 at 5:33 am
                            abcmom24
                            Participant

                              Lisa,

                              i have had a similar experience. I asked similar question more recently. I am wondering if you are still having pain? If so did you find the reason for it?

                               

                              Peggy,

                              Did you have any other symptoms aside from the swelling of your lymph nodes? I'm just wondering about pain/discomfort?

                              prayers for healing for you both.

                              -Amelia

                               

                              • May 29, 2016 at 5:33 am
                              abcmom24
                              Participant

                                Lisa,

                                i have had a similar experience. I asked similar question more recently. I am wondering if you are still having pain? If so did you find the reason for it?

                                 

                                Peggy,

                                Did you have any other symptoms aside from the swelling of your lymph nodes? I'm just wondering about pain/discomfort?

                                prayers for healing for you both.

                                -Amelia

                                 

                              • April 21, 2016 at 5:52 pm
                              Mamapegela
                              Participant

                                Hi Lisa-

                                I just want to share my experience so that you have the most information you can to go on.  I had a small mole on my neck first biopsied, then found positive for melanoma, then excised from my neck by WLE in Nov. 2015.  It was small, thin and had clear margins so stage 1, no further treatment indicated.  In March 2016 I noticed an enlarged lymph node in my neck and it has since been biopsied and is positive.  Granted, the time frame is longer for mine (4 mos) than for yours, and as others have said it is most likely due to the surgery, but I think it bears watching since, as my Dr. has said, melanoma "doesn't follow the rules".  

                                It is always better to err on the side of caution in my view, and knowledge is power.

                                Wishing you the very best,

                                Peggy

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