newely diagnosed

Most institutions use 1mm as the cutoff for the SNB unless you have other high risk factors.  However, some institutions use .76mm. 

Most institutions use 1mm as the cutoff for the SNB unless you have other high risk factors.  However, some institutions use .76mm. 

Most institutions use 1mm as the cutoff for the SNB unless you have other high risk factors.  However, some institutions use .76mm. 

Hi, first of all, I'm sorry about your diagnosis, since it's stage 1, that means that it isn't too deep and they caught it early, which is great! I know it's still overwhelming, no matter what stage, and of course it's still cause for concern.

From my experience, if they do make the determination to biopsy lymph nodes, they will inject something into the site of the melanoma so that they know which lymph nodes to biopsy. My melanoma was on my left shoulder, and the closest lymph nodes were under my left arm. Then, during the wide excision of the melanoma, they'll also make a small incision and remove a few nodes so that they can test those for melanoma. For me, the biopsy was a minor annoyance, especially with it being under my arm, the skin was constantly rubbing, but the skin on top of my shoulder was so tight from the melanoma excision, it didn't seem so bad.  I think it will depend a lot on where the melanoma is, and which lymph nodes are closest. I'm sure it's a different ball game if it's your leg because of having a hard time walking. 

My lymph nodes came back clear last year, but this year, we felt a lump, and after tests and biopsies, I found out the melanoma had spread after all. I had to get all my lymph nodes removed under my left arm, and it was a lot more involved than the biopsy, but I made it through just fine, it was a week of major inconvenience (had a fluid drain and a sling, no driving, no washing my hair!!) and then a couple weeks of minor inconvenenience while I worked on getting my mobility back.

I guess the best advice I can give is, just know you're going to get through whatever is thrown at you. You are stronger than you realize. When I first found out that I might have melanoma, all I cared about was having a big scar on my shoulder. How silly! I am proud of my scar, and I don't even think to try to wear clothes that hide it. It's my battle scar. The unknown is scary, and like you, I just want to know everything that's going to happen. Right now I scour and search the message boards trying to find out how different medical treatments might affect me, but really, I know that each person is different, and there are just some things we don't get to plan out.

Hopefully everything will come back fine, and you won't need to go through any of those things, but even so, PLEASE be diligent about your follow ups, and of course prevention of future skin cancer. If you have more questions, please feel free to ask!

Melissa

Hi, first of all, I'm sorry about your diagnosis, since it's stage 1, that means that it isn't too deep and they caught it early, which is great! I know it's still overwhelming, no matter what stage, and of course it's still cause for concern.

From my experience, if they do make the determination to biopsy lymph nodes, they will inject something into the site of the melanoma so that they know which lymph nodes to biopsy. My melanoma was on my left shoulder, and the closest lymph nodes were under my left arm. Then, during the wide excision of the melanoma, they'll also make a small incision and remove a few nodes so that they can test those for melanoma. For me, the biopsy was a minor annoyance, especially with it being under my arm, the skin was constantly rubbing, but the skin on top of my shoulder was so tight from the melanoma excision, it didn't seem so bad.  I think it will depend a lot on where the melanoma is, and which lymph nodes are closest. I'm sure it's a different ball game if it's your leg because of having a hard time walking. 

My lymph nodes came back clear last year, but this year, we felt a lump, and after tests and biopsies, I found out the melanoma had spread after all. I had to get all my lymph nodes removed under my left arm, and it was a lot more involved than the biopsy, but I made it through just fine, it was a week of major inconvenience (had a fluid drain and a sling, no driving, no washing my hair!!) and then a couple weeks of minor inconvenenience while I worked on getting my mobility back.

I guess the best advice I can give is, just know you're going to get through whatever is thrown at you. You are stronger than you realize. When I first found out that I might have melanoma, all I cared about was having a big scar on my shoulder. How silly! I am proud of my scar, and I don't even think to try to wear clothes that hide it. It's my battle scar. The unknown is scary, and like you, I just want to know everything that's going to happen. Right now I scour and search the message boards trying to find out how different medical treatments might affect me, but really, I know that each person is different, and there are just some things we don't get to plan out.

Hopefully everything will come back fine, and you won't need to go through any of those things, but even so, PLEASE be diligent about your follow ups, and of course prevention of future skin cancer. If you have more questions, please feel free to ask!

Melissa

Hi, first of all, I'm sorry about your diagnosis, since it's stage 1, that means that it isn't too deep and they caught it early, which is great! I know it's still overwhelming, no matter what stage, and of course it's still cause for concern.

From my experience, if they do make the determination to biopsy lymph nodes, they will inject something into the site of the melanoma so that they know which lymph nodes to biopsy. My melanoma was on my left shoulder, and the closest lymph nodes were under my left arm. Then, during the wide excision of the melanoma, they'll also make a small incision and remove a few nodes so that they can test those for melanoma. For me, the biopsy was a minor annoyance, especially with it being under my arm, the skin was constantly rubbing, but the skin on top of my shoulder was so tight from the melanoma excision, it didn't seem so bad.  I think it will depend a lot on where the melanoma is, and which lymph nodes are closest. I'm sure it's a different ball game if it's your leg because of having a hard time walking. 

My lymph nodes came back clear last year, but this year, we felt a lump, and after tests and biopsies, I found out the melanoma had spread after all. I had to get all my lymph nodes removed under my left arm, and it was a lot more involved than the biopsy, but I made it through just fine, it was a week of major inconvenience (had a fluid drain and a sling, no driving, no washing my hair!!) and then a couple weeks of minor inconvenenience while I worked on getting my mobility back.

I guess the best advice I can give is, just know you're going to get through whatever is thrown at you. You are stronger than you realize. When I first found out that I might have melanoma, all I cared about was having a big scar on my shoulder. How silly! I am proud of my scar, and I don't even think to try to wear clothes that hide it. It's my battle scar. The unknown is scary, and like you, I just want to know everything that's going to happen. Right now I scour and search the message boards trying to find out how different medical treatments might affect me, but really, I know that each person is different, and there are just some things we don't get to plan out.

Hopefully everything will come back fine, and you won't need to go through any of those things, but even so, PLEASE be diligent about your follow ups, and of course prevention of future skin cancer. If you have more questions, please feel free to ask!

Melissa