› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Follow up appts with dermatologist or oncologist?
- This topic has 15 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 10 months ago by
akamo.
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- August 21, 2015 at 12:34 am
Hi. Well my husband had the WLE Monday and he goes in on August 25th to get the pathology report. He had the surgery done at the dermatologist office by a plastic surgeon and now we are wondering where he should have his 3 or 6 month follow-up appointments? Dermatologist or melanoma oncologist? Btw, he was a 1A, clarks level II with clear margins after the biopsy. Assuming everything is good because the doctor said he likes to take more than called for in the guidelines. Btw, incision is 11 cm long for a centimeter biopsy. Do you suppose that is good or ridiculously excessive? My husband is a bit mad but I tell him it is over now so hopefully overkill will guarentee no return of the melanoma. Anyway, mainly wanting to know where everyone does their follow up visits. Thanks~Robin
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- August 21, 2015 at 4:28 am
The incision length is a shock but it needs to be that long to get a nice flat scar. Otherwise there would be puckering and pulling on the skin causing a much wider scar when all is said and done. Better a long scar than not getting all of the melanoma. Since your husband is stage IA he will probably be followed by his dermatologist as there is no treatment other than regular skin checks offerred for this stage. Great news!
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- August 21, 2015 at 4:28 am
The incision length is a shock but it needs to be that long to get a nice flat scar. Otherwise there would be puckering and pulling on the skin causing a much wider scar when all is said and done. Better a long scar than not getting all of the melanoma. Since your husband is stage IA he will probably be followed by his dermatologist as there is no treatment other than regular skin checks offerred for this stage. Great news!
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- August 21, 2015 at 4:28 am
The incision length is a shock but it needs to be that long to get a nice flat scar. Otherwise there would be puckering and pulling on the skin causing a much wider scar when all is said and done. Better a long scar than not getting all of the melanoma. Since your husband is stage IA he will probably be followed by his dermatologist as there is no treatment other than regular skin checks offerred for this stage. Great news!
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- August 21, 2015 at 4:46 am
In Australia, it would be a derm. An oncologist doesn't want to know you unless you have metastatic disease. The WLE is always an eye or football shape as to close the wound properly you need a 30 degree angle at each end – so generally you need to make a longer cut to get a good closure/scar. One of hte many interesting things my doc has shared with me while stitching me up over the last few months. I have a 10cm scar from 1cm WLE so 11cm is not too bad.
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- August 21, 2015 at 4:46 am
In Australia, it would be a derm. An oncologist doesn't want to know you unless you have metastatic disease. The WLE is always an eye or football shape as to close the wound properly you need a 30 degree angle at each end – so generally you need to make a longer cut to get a good closure/scar. One of hte many interesting things my doc has shared with me while stitching me up over the last few months. I have a 10cm scar from 1cm WLE so 11cm is not too bad.
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- August 21, 2015 at 4:46 am
In Australia, it would be a derm. An oncologist doesn't want to know you unless you have metastatic disease. The WLE is always an eye or football shape as to close the wound properly you need a 30 degree angle at each end – so generally you need to make a longer cut to get a good closure/scar. One of hte many interesting things my doc has shared with me while stitching me up over the last few months. I have a 10cm scar from 1cm WLE so 11cm is not too bad.
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- August 21, 2015 at 1:54 pm
Thanks for the replies. My husband will be glad to hear the length was necessary because he was in shock (my theory was too big is better than too small but then again, I am not the one with the excision). He will also be glad follow up appointments are with the dermatoliogist. This has been a learning experience for us because he has always loved the sun and he has psoriasis so it has been necessary to keep it under control. We are going to make a life style change and along the way hopefully educate people about melanoma. -Robin
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- August 21, 2015 at 1:54 pm
Thanks for the replies. My husband will be glad to hear the length was necessary because he was in shock (my theory was too big is better than too small but then again, I am not the one with the excision). He will also be glad follow up appointments are with the dermatoliogist. This has been a learning experience for us because he has always loved the sun and he has psoriasis so it has been necessary to keep it under control. We are going to make a life style change and along the way hopefully educate people about melanoma. -Robin
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- August 21, 2015 at 1:54 pm
Thanks for the replies. My husband will be glad to hear the length was necessary because he was in shock (my theory was too big is better than too small but then again, I am not the one with the excision). He will also be glad follow up appointments are with the dermatoliogist. This has been a learning experience for us because he has always loved the sun and he has psoriasis so it has been necessary to keep it under control. We are going to make a life style change and along the way hopefully educate people about melanoma. -Robin
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- August 23, 2015 at 3:48 am
I've been dealing with Melanoma a long time and cannot tell you the right or wrong thing, but I will tell you what I do. I have a regular dermatologist that follows me and that I see every 3 months. I have have Stage IV, and two Stage 1's, along with basal cell since I was 14, and I am now 32. I like my regular dermatolgist because he can seek out everything that is necessary on an exam. There is nothing that he can't do that a surgical oncologist cannot., including removing abnormal looking moles. I do see one every 6 months to do my xrays and exam. I have a long history, so it may not be typical, but I find that I am more comfortable with my dermatolgist than the larger cancer hospital I go to.
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- August 23, 2015 at 3:48 am
I've been dealing with Melanoma a long time and cannot tell you the right or wrong thing, but I will tell you what I do. I have a regular dermatologist that follows me and that I see every 3 months. I have have Stage IV, and two Stage 1's, along with basal cell since I was 14, and I am now 32. I like my regular dermatolgist because he can seek out everything that is necessary on an exam. There is nothing that he can't do that a surgical oncologist cannot., including removing abnormal looking moles. I do see one every 6 months to do my xrays and exam. I have a long history, so it may not be typical, but I find that I am more comfortable with my dermatolgist than the larger cancer hospital I go to.
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- August 23, 2015 at 3:48 am
I've been dealing with Melanoma a long time and cannot tell you the right or wrong thing, but I will tell you what I do. I have a regular dermatologist that follows me and that I see every 3 months. I have have Stage IV, and two Stage 1's, along with basal cell since I was 14, and I am now 32. I like my regular dermatolgist because he can seek out everything that is necessary on an exam. There is nothing that he can't do that a surgical oncologist cannot., including removing abnormal looking moles. I do see one every 6 months to do my xrays and exam. I have a long history, so it may not be typical, but I find that I am more comfortable with my dermatolgist than the larger cancer hospital I go to.
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