I met with the surgeon today regarding the reports. The depth of the tumor was 1.22 mm the same depth as what the dermatologist took off in the shave biopsy. The surgeon removed the margins according to guidelines and the area is cancer free. The OR report mentions there was a 1.5 cm margin around a 2mm scar( left by the shave biopsy). So 2.5 cm in total from the original lump I could see on my skin. So that's gone and I have to keep the stitches for 3 weeks as a lot of skin was cut to cover the space.
For the lymph node biopsy, the first sentinel node that was closest to the surface in my upper leg/groin area had a 4mm area of Melanoma. It was contained inside the capsule. That was removed. The second one which was deeper was clear and removed. At my pre surgery consult the surgeons were doubtful that it had spread to lymph nodes but decided they better do the biopsy. It's a good thing they did and I kept insisting that I get into surgery asap!
The surgeon also checked the lump in my groin that is causing nerve pain. She said to put heat on it and move around more if I can, hoping it will shrink. If it hasn't by next week's app't she will drain it but didn't want to do it today one week after surgery and cause an infection.
The next test I have to do is a PET scan of the remaining lymph nodes in my groin to make sure the melanoma hasn't spread to a different node, and to have a baseline. For anyone that has done these do they inject you with radioactive tracer again? If so, doesn't it take longer to reach all those lymph nodes than the sentinel ones? Then ultrasounds of groin lymph nodes every 3 months for the next year.
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