I am new here. I had a suspiscious looking mole on my left calf checked out by several general physicians and nurses who all thought it was nothing.
I got a new family doctor and insisted on getting a referral for a dermatologist. My dermatologist recommeded a biopsy, but she was convinced it was nothing and did it so I would have peace of mind (I’m a hypohondriac). My biopsy took place on March 31st, and I was notified on May 1st that it had come back for melanoma in situ. I had my WLE done a week later with 5mm margins, which I had told her she can cut up as much as she wants to make sure this thing was out!! I requested my path reports after, and my biopsy path report said it was “at least melanoma in situ, with features suspicious of early papillary dermal invasion (Breslow thickness 0.28mm, Clark II).” Huh. Ok. Clark II means stage 1a not in situ… I then reviewed my WLE path report which says “The previous biopsy was reviewed, rare cells suspicious for papillary dermis invasion were confirmed, similar cells are not seen in the current wide excision specimen. Opinion: Focal residual melanoma in situ, negative for dermal invasion in this sample; in situ melanoma is 4 milimeters from closest lateral margin.”
So turns out I am stage 1a, not 0 as my dermatologist initially thought.
My dermatologist called 6 weeks post WLE to prescribe me Zyclara (imiquimod) two applications per day for 6 consecutive weeks in case there were any melanoma cells left, she said this would kill them. She has dismissed any concerns I had when I questioned the effectiveness of Zyclara on melanoma. When she did my skin check, she glanced at moles from afar and dismissed my concerns for a similar one on my back. I feel very anxious and scared.
A new dermatologist has reluctantly accepted me as a patient, and although she agrees the guideline margins for stage 1a are not met, she does not feel comfortable re excising it herself and would like me to go to my old dermatologist who I think will refuse to do it. Zyclara has had no effect on my skin/scar, which my old dermatologist said is good because since there is no reaction that means there is likely no cancer cells left.
What would you do? I worry a lot, and tend to come to these forums often. I want to move on and live my life but am terrified I will be part of the 5% 1a who die after 5 years if I don’t get re-excised.
Thanks to all for reading.
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