The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content within the patient forum is user-generated and has not been reviewed by medical professionals. Other sections of the Melanoma Research Foundation website include information that has been reviewed by medical professionals as appropriate. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Melanoma with Local excision

This topic has 15 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 6 months ago by Christinalynn4.

Post

- March 4, 2013 at 5:19 pm
- Quote
Christinalynn4
Participant
I was diagnosed with Melanoma on Jan 28th 2013 I had a mole on the left lower leg that had been there my whole life.. It had not changed but i did cut it with a razor shaving. I was nervous to have it removed in dec so i waited another month..it did not hurt at all when I had the shave biopsy and could have prob cut it off my self..it came back melanoma ..long story shorter i had surgery feb 15th the surgeon thought i would need a skin graft w a wound vac but he was able to pull the skin and stitch it closed..I thought it was good i have stretchy skin. I had slab to the left groin also.

I was diagnosed with Melanoma on Jan 28th 2013 I had a mole on the left lower leg that had been there my whole life.. It had not changed but i did cut it with a razor shaving. I was nervous to have it removed in dec so i waited another month..it did not hurt at all when I had the shave biopsy and could have prob cut it off my self..it came back melanoma ..long story shorter i had surgery feb 15th the surgeon thought i would need a skin graft w a wound vac but he was able to pull the skin and stitch it closed..I thought it was good i have stretchy skin. I had slab to the left groin also. 2lymph nodes were taken and thank god came back negative and w the wle all the margins were clean no cancer..I ended up with a seroma to the groin and increased pain then increased pain to lower leg w redness and drainage. The groin has eased up and I opted to let the seroma hopefully dissolve on its own. Im really concerned about the lower incision. I started Keflex thurs but called the dr sat because the wound looked worse and started taking Bactrim twice a day. The dr does not seem concerned it is a five inch incision and they say there is a chance it will open! I have been out of work almost three weeks now and am a little terrified to go back thurs if it opens i will prob need a wound vac and another month off of work.. DOES ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE ANY ADVICE?? I have been wrapping the leg with four ace wraps as recommended by the dr from the toes to the groin and taking it off at night. 17days since surgery! The most pain I have is in the thigh….I don’t know if I tore the muscle..I ve tried creams Lidoderm patch and ice nothing seems to be working. If anyone can help i would really appreciate it,

Viewing 2 reply threads

Replies

- - March 4, 2013 at 5:24 pm
  - Quote
  JC
  Participant
  I had WLE almost 2 years ago on my upper back (left side). It was not terribly painful, I actually stopped taking the strong stuff pretty quickly because it gave me upset stomach and so I went to Tylenol and was fine with that. The thing that happened with me is either I started moving around too much too soon, or it was going to happen anyway just because of the location. . you almost can't move without stretching that area. . .so it opened up. So, while it started healing and the skin was very thin there, it eventually opened up and so I had a big hole in my back for a long time while it healed from the inside out. It didn't get infected, it didn't really hurt, and my wife would just change the dressing on it each day. I didn't need one of those vacuum things that drain fluid or anything like that, I just let it slowly heal after it opened, and eventually after maybe couple months it finally healed up. Because of that, the scar is bigger, of course. My surgeon is a very skilled, very good surgeon (specializes in breast cancer and melanoma), but he sees this scar and just says it's not in his top 10 that he's done, that's for sure. I don't care so much about the cosmetic part. I actually have talked to one dermatologist who said when she does a WLE in that part of the back, she knows it is likely to open so she doesn't even bother to close it up, she just lets it heal from the inside out. So, try not to stretch it out too much after surgery, let it come together and heal. The other thing is the scar will go through a lot of changes, color changes, etc….so don't let that freak you out. I always would think every color change in the scar was some sort of recurrence. It wasn't, it was just the scar changing a lot. Doctor said recurrence would not be that fast, first of all. I actually had a biopsy done on an area of the scar that was colored darker, but turned out to be ruptured hair follicle.
- - March 4, 2013 at 5:24 pm
  - Quote
  JC
  Participant
  I had WLE almost 2 years ago on my upper back (left side). It was not terribly painful, I actually stopped taking the strong stuff pretty quickly because it gave me upset stomach and so I went to Tylenol and was fine with that. The thing that happened with me is either I started moving around too much too soon, or it was going to happen anyway just because of the location. . you almost can't move without stretching that area. . .so it opened up. So, while it started healing and the skin was very thin there, it eventually opened up and so I had a big hole in my back for a long time while it healed from the inside out. It didn't get infected, it didn't really hurt, and my wife would just change the dressing on it each day. I didn't need one of those vacuum things that drain fluid or anything like that, I just let it slowly heal after it opened, and eventually after maybe couple months it finally healed up. Because of that, the scar is bigger, of course. My surgeon is a very skilled, very good surgeon (specializes in breast cancer and melanoma), but he sees this scar and just says it's not in his top 10 that he's done, that's for sure. I don't care so much about the cosmetic part. I actually have talked to one dermatologist who said when she does a WLE in that part of the back, she knows it is likely to open so she doesn't even bother to close it up, she just lets it heal from the inside out. So, try not to stretch it out too much after surgery, let it come together and heal. The other thing is the scar will go through a lot of changes, color changes, etc….so don't let that freak you out. I always would think every color change in the scar was some sort of recurrence. It wasn't, it was just the scar changing a lot. Doctor said recurrence would not be that fast, first of all. I actually had a biopsy done on an area of the scar that was colored darker, but turned out to be ruptured hair follicle.
  - March 4, 2013 at 5:30 pm
    
    Quote
    Christinalynn4
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your response. I called the Dr today he is off and spoke with his wonderful PA physicians Assistant. He said to stay off of it keep it wrapped take antibiotics and hope it does not open…Well I am a single mother paying all the bills and i have already been off work 2 weeks. I only had a week of vacation so this 2nd week is not paid. I really would love to get back to work I am a home care nurse so its not that bad.. but Im scared to death if it opens I am going to be in big trouble. It just seems like everyday I look at it it looks worse it looks redder and like there is a lot of Slough(dead tissue) from a nurses point of view 17 days after surgery it looks like a wound that is not healing 🙁
  - March 4, 2013 at 5:30 pm
    
    Quote
    Christinalynn4
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your response. I called the Dr today he is off and spoke with his wonderful PA physicians Assistant. He said to stay off of it keep it wrapped take antibiotics and hope it does not open…Well I am a single mother paying all the bills and i have already been off work 2 weeks. I only had a week of vacation so this 2nd week is not paid. I really would love to get back to work I am a home care nurse so its not that bad.. but Im scared to death if it opens I am going to be in big trouble. It just seems like everyday I look at it it looks worse it looks redder and like there is a lot of Slough(dead tissue) from a nurses point of view 17 days after surgery it looks like a wound that is not healing 🙁
  - March 4, 2013 at 5:30 pm
    
    Quote
    Christinalynn4
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your response. I called the Dr today he is off and spoke with his wonderful PA physicians Assistant. He said to stay off of it keep it wrapped take antibiotics and hope it does not open…Well I am a single mother paying all the bills and i have already been off work 2 weeks. I only had a week of vacation so this 2nd week is not paid. I really would love to get back to work I am a home care nurse so its not that bad.. but Im scared to death if it opens I am going to be in big trouble. It just seems like everyday I look at it it looks worse it looks redder and like there is a lot of Slough(dead tissue) from a nurses point of view 17 days after surgery it looks like a wound that is not healing 🙁
  - March 4, 2013 at 5:31 pm
    
    Quote
    Christinalynn4
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your response. I called the Dr today he is off and spoke with his wonderful PA physicians Assistant. He said to stay off of it keep it wrapped take antibiotics and hope it does not open…Well I am a single mother paying all the bills and i have already been off work 2 weeks. I only had a week of vacation so this 2nd week is not paid. I really would love to get back to work I am a home care nurse so its not that bad.. but Im scared to death if it opens I am going to be in big trouble. It just seems like everyday I look at it it looks worse it looks redder and like there is a lot of Slough(dead tissue) from a nurses point of view 17 days after surgery it looks like a wound that is not healing 🙁
  - March 4, 2013 at 5:31 pm
    
    Quote
    Christinalynn4
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your response. I called the Dr today he is off and spoke with his wonderful PA physicians Assistant. He said to stay off of it keep it wrapped take antibiotics and hope it does not open…Well I am a single mother paying all the bills and i have already been off work 2 weeks. I only had a week of vacation so this 2nd week is not paid. I really would love to get back to work I am a home care nurse so its not that bad.. but Im scared to death if it opens I am going to be in big trouble. It just seems like everyday I look at it it looks worse it looks redder and like there is a lot of Slough(dead tissue) from a nurses point of view 17 days after surgery it looks like a wound that is not healing 🙁
  - March 4, 2013 at 5:31 pm
    
    Quote
    Christinalynn4
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your response. I called the Dr today he is off and spoke with his wonderful PA physicians Assistant. He said to stay off of it keep it wrapped take antibiotics and hope it does not open…Well I am a single mother paying all the bills and i have already been off work 2 weeks. I only had a week of vacation so this 2nd week is not paid. I really would love to get back to work I am a home care nurse so its not that bad.. but Im scared to death if it opens I am going to be in big trouble. It just seems like everyday I look at it it looks worse it looks redder and like there is a lot of Slough(dead tissue) from a nurses point of view 17 days after surgery it looks like a wound that is not healing 🙁
  - March 4, 2013 at 5:32 pm
    
    Quote
    Christinalynn4
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your response. I called the Dr today he is off and spoke with his wonderful PA physicians Assistant. He said to stay off of it keep it wrapped take antibiotics and hope it does not open…Well I am a single mother paying all the bills and i have already been off work 2 weeks. I only had a week of vacation so this 2nd week is not paid. I really would love to get back to work I am a home care nurse so its not that bad.. but Im scared to death if it opens I am going to be in big trouble. It just seems like everyday I look at it it looks worse it looks redder and like there is a lot of Slough(dead tissue) from a nurses point of view 17 days after surgery it looks like a wound that is not healing 🙁
  - March 4, 2013 at 5:32 pm
    
    Quote
    Christinalynn4
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your response. I called the Dr today he is off and spoke with his wonderful PA physicians Assistant. He said to stay off of it keep it wrapped take antibiotics and hope it does not open…Well I am a single mother paying all the bills and i have already been off work 2 weeks. I only had a week of vacation so this 2nd week is not paid. I really would love to get back to work I am a home care nurse so its not that bad.. but Im scared to death if it opens I am going to be in big trouble. It just seems like everyday I look at it it looks worse it looks redder and like there is a lot of Slough(dead tissue) from a nurses point of view 17 days after surgery it looks like a wound that is not healing 🙁
  - March 4, 2013 at 5:32 pm
    
    Quote
    Christinalynn4
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your response. I called the Dr today he is off and spoke with his wonderful PA physicians Assistant. He said to stay off of it keep it wrapped take antibiotics and hope it does not open…Well I am a single mother paying all the bills and i have already been off work 2 weeks. I only had a week of vacation so this 2nd week is not paid. I really would love to get back to work I am a home care nurse so its not that bad.. but Im scared to death if it opens I am going to be in big trouble. It just seems like everyday I look at it it looks worse it looks redder and like there is a lot of Slough(dead tissue) from a nurses point of view 17 days after surgery it looks like a wound that is not healing 🙁
  - March 4, 2013 at 5:33 pm
    
    Quote
    Christinalynn4
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your response. I called the Dr today he is off and spoke with his wonderful PA physicians Assistant. He said to stay off of it keep it wrapped take antibiotics and hope it does not open…Well I am a single mother paying all the bills and i have already been off work 2 weeks. I only had a week of vacation so this 2nd week is not paid. I really would love to get back to work I am a home care nurse so its not that bad.. but Im scared to death if it opens I am going to be in big trouble. It just seems like everyday I look at it it looks worse it looks redder and like there is a lot of Slough(dead tissue) from a nurses point of view 17 days after surgery it looks like a wound that is not healing 🙁
  - March 4, 2013 at 5:33 pm
    
    Quote
    Christinalynn4
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your response. I called the Dr today he is off and spoke with his wonderful PA physicians Assistant. He said to stay off of it keep it wrapped take antibiotics and hope it does not open…Well I am a single mother paying all the bills and i have already been off work 2 weeks. I only had a week of vacation so this 2nd week is not paid. I really would love to get back to work I am a home care nurse so its not that bad.. but Im scared to death if it opens I am going to be in big trouble. It just seems like everyday I look at it it looks worse it looks redder and like there is a lot of Slough(dead tissue) from a nurses point of view 17 days after surgery it looks like a wound that is not healing 🙁
  - March 4, 2013 at 5:33 pm
    
    Quote
    Christinalynn4
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your response. I called the Dr today he is off and spoke with his wonderful PA physicians Assistant. He said to stay off of it keep it wrapped take antibiotics and hope it does not open…Well I am a single mother paying all the bills and i have already been off work 2 weeks. I only had a week of vacation so this 2nd week is not paid. I really would love to get back to work I am a home care nurse so its not that bad.. but Im scared to death if it opens I am going to be in big trouble. It just seems like everyday I look at it it looks worse it looks redder and like there is a lot of Slough(dead tissue) from a nurses point of view 17 days after surgery it looks like a wound that is not healing 🙁
- - March 4, 2013 at 5:24 pm
  - Quote
  JC
  Participant
  I had WLE almost 2 years ago on my upper back (left side). It was not terribly painful, I actually stopped taking the strong stuff pretty quickly because it gave me upset stomach and so I went to Tylenol and was fine with that. The thing that happened with me is either I started moving around too much too soon, or it was going to happen anyway just because of the location. . you almost can't move without stretching that area. . .so it opened up. So, while it started healing and the skin was very thin there, it eventually opened up and so I had a big hole in my back for a long time while it healed from the inside out. It didn't get infected, it didn't really hurt, and my wife would just change the dressing on it each day. I didn't need one of those vacuum things that drain fluid or anything like that, I just let it slowly heal after it opened, and eventually after maybe couple months it finally healed up. Because of that, the scar is bigger, of course. My surgeon is a very skilled, very good surgeon (specializes in breast cancer and melanoma), but he sees this scar and just says it's not in his top 10 that he's done, that's for sure. I don't care so much about the cosmetic part. I actually have talked to one dermatologist who said when she does a WLE in that part of the back, she knows it is likely to open so she doesn't even bother to close it up, she just lets it heal from the inside out. So, try not to stretch it out too much after surgery, let it come together and heal. The other thing is the scar will go through a lot of changes, color changes, etc….so don't let that freak you out. I always would think every color change in the scar was some sort of recurrence. It wasn't, it was just the scar changing a lot. Doctor said recurrence would not be that fast, first of all. I actually had a biopsy done on an area of the scar that was colored darker, but turned out to be ruptured hair follicle.

Viewing 2 reply threads

Tagged: cutaneous melanoma

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.