› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › The question I forgot to ask my doctor today – any ideas?
- This topic has 15 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 1 month ago by
Webbie73.
- Post
-
- July 18, 2013 at 2:16 am
I had a biopsy in June that came back as In situ melanoma. Had the out patient surgery end of June and was just barely able to get by without a skin graft. When I went back at two weeks for a wound check the PA said there was a problem with the margins and honestly I just stopped listening at that point because I just couldn't deal with it.
I had a biopsy in June that came back as In situ melanoma. Had the out patient surgery end of June and was just barely able to get by without a skin graft. When I went back at two weeks for a wound check the PA said there was a problem with the margins and honestly I just stopped listening at that point because I just couldn't deal with it. Went back yesterday to get the stitches out and met with the plastic surgeon who explained that while the pathology report indicated that he had gotten all of the melanoma there were some 'abnormal cells' in several areas around the melanoma. So, in three months, when the wound has competely healed, he will go back and take 4 biopsies in those areas.
So, if it's not cancer but just 'abnormal' cells what then? Because we just barely got away without a skin graft now cutting more out later could be problematic – the melanoma was on the back of my leg just above my ankle.
Thanks for any insight – and no I did not get a copy of the pathology report…
- Replies
-
-
- July 18, 2013 at 2:31 am
If there are abnormal melanocytes present, they will probably want at least clean margins given the proximity to your primary. They also want to make sure none of those abnormal cells are really melanoma. In normal circumstances, they probably would just do a larger WLE. But since that would most likely mean a skin graft for you, I suppose the biopsies are going to try and accomplish the same thing. Please remember that surgery is THE very best treatment for melanoma. So while all of this might be a big inconvenience now, it is essential and the best treatment you can get for a melanoma-free future.
Best wishes,
Janner
-
- July 18, 2013 at 2:31 am
If there are abnormal melanocytes present, they will probably want at least clean margins given the proximity to your primary. They also want to make sure none of those abnormal cells are really melanoma. In normal circumstances, they probably would just do a larger WLE. But since that would most likely mean a skin graft for you, I suppose the biopsies are going to try and accomplish the same thing. Please remember that surgery is THE very best treatment for melanoma. So while all of this might be a big inconvenience now, it is essential and the best treatment you can get for a melanoma-free future.
Best wishes,
Janner
-
- July 18, 2013 at 2:31 am
If there are abnormal melanocytes present, they will probably want at least clean margins given the proximity to your primary. They also want to make sure none of those abnormal cells are really melanoma. In normal circumstances, they probably would just do a larger WLE. But since that would most likely mean a skin graft for you, I suppose the biopsies are going to try and accomplish the same thing. Please remember that surgery is THE very best treatment for melanoma. So while all of this might be a big inconvenience now, it is essential and the best treatment you can get for a melanoma-free future.
Best wishes,
Janner
-
- July 18, 2013 at 2:37 am
Have you had a skin graft – because I can see that this is potentially headed in that direction. Will a skin graft on that area put me off my feet for a while? I teach at a middle school and from what I have read it is important to keep that area from being banged or knocked and that would be next to impossible in a hallway filled with middle school students. Silly thing to worry about I know – but I spend inordinate amounts of time worrying about small stuff to avoid thinking about the big stuff. Won't even get into how this is messing with my half marathon training since I haven't been able to run nearly a month now LOL! Really I am glad to be healthy and whole with two surgeries in less than a year!
-
- July 18, 2013 at 2:44 am
No skin grafts here. I've had about 8 WLEs but all we able to be done without a skin graft. It all depends on the anatomy of the area.
Sorry this is keeping you from doing your thing, but remember the short inconvenience now is meant to give you a long life to do everything you want to do later.
Hang in there…
-
- July 18, 2013 at 2:37 am
Have you had a skin graft – because I can see that this is potentially headed in that direction. Will a skin graft on that area put me off my feet for a while? I teach at a middle school and from what I have read it is important to keep that area from being banged or knocked and that would be next to impossible in a hallway filled with middle school students. Silly thing to worry about I know – but I spend inordinate amounts of time worrying about small stuff to avoid thinking about the big stuff. Won't even get into how this is messing with my half marathon training since I haven't been able to run nearly a month now LOL! Really I am glad to be healthy and whole with two surgeries in less than a year!
-
- July 18, 2013 at 2:37 am
Have you had a skin graft – because I can see that this is potentially headed in that direction. Will a skin graft on that area put me off my feet for a while? I teach at a middle school and from what I have read it is important to keep that area from being banged or knocked and that would be next to impossible in a hallway filled with middle school students. Silly thing to worry about I know – but I spend inordinate amounts of time worrying about small stuff to avoid thinking about the big stuff. Won't even get into how this is messing with my half marathon training since I haven't been able to run nearly a month now LOL! Really I am glad to be healthy and whole with two surgeries in less than a year!
-
- July 18, 2013 at 2:44 am
No skin grafts here. I've had about 8 WLEs but all we able to be done without a skin graft. It all depends on the anatomy of the area.
Sorry this is keeping you from doing your thing, but remember the short inconvenience now is meant to give you a long life to do everything you want to do later.
Hang in there…
-
- July 18, 2013 at 2:44 am
No skin grafts here. I've had about 8 WLEs but all we able to be done without a skin graft. It all depends on the anatomy of the area.
Sorry this is keeping you from doing your thing, but remember the short inconvenience now is meant to give you a long life to do everything you want to do later.
Hang in there…
-
- July 20, 2013 at 2:56 pm
Hang in there! I had a WLE on the back of my leg right below the calf muscle. It was 5″x21/2″x2″ and there was debate over a skin graft. I was told a graft in that area is hard to heal and might not take. Instead the surgeon did a fantastic job of suturing inside and out. The leg was bandaged and wrapped in an ace bandage. I was told to stay off my leg for 2 weeks and by that he meant only get up for a trip to the bathroom and to go to bed. The rest of the time I was in the recliner with my leg up on a pillow. For me two weeks out of my schedule was well worth the end results. I wish you the very best. -
- July 20, 2013 at 2:56 pm
Hang in there! I had a WLE on the back of my leg right below the calf muscle. It was 5″x21/2″x2″ and there was debate over a skin graft. I was told a graft in that area is hard to heal and might not take. Instead the surgeon did a fantastic job of suturing inside and out. The leg was bandaged and wrapped in an ace bandage. I was told to stay off my leg for 2 weeks and by that he meant only get up for a trip to the bathroom and to go to bed. The rest of the time I was in the recliner with my leg up on a pillow. For me two weeks out of my schedule was well worth the end results. I wish you the very best. -
- July 20, 2013 at 2:56 pm
Hang in there! I had a WLE on the back of my leg right below the calf muscle. It was 5″x21/2″x2″ and there was debate over a skin graft. I was told a graft in that area is hard to heal and might not take. Instead the surgeon did a fantastic job of suturing inside and out. The leg was bandaged and wrapped in an ace bandage. I was told to stay off my leg for 2 weeks and by that he meant only get up for a trip to the bathroom and to go to bed. The rest of the time I was in the recliner with my leg up on a pillow. For me two weeks out of my schedule was well worth the end results. I wish you the very best. -
- July 20, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Hang in there! I had a WLE on the back of my leg right below the calf muscle. It was 5″x21/2″x2″ and there was debate over a skin graft. I was told a graft in that area is hard to heal and might not take. Instead the surgeon did a fantastic job of suturing inside and out. The leg was bandaged and wrapped in an ace bandage. I was told to stay off my leg for 2 weeks and by that he meant only get up for a trip to the bathroom and to go to bed. The rest of the time I was in the recliner with my leg up on a pillow. For me two weeks out of my schedule was well worth the end results. I wish you the very best. -
- July 20, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Hang in there! I had a WLE on the back of my leg right below the calf muscle. It was 5″x21/2″x2″ and there was debate over a skin graft. I was told a graft in that area is hard to heal and might not take. Instead the surgeon did a fantastic job of suturing inside and out. The leg was bandaged and wrapped in an ace bandage. I was told to stay off my leg for 2 weeks and by that he meant only get up for a trip to the bathroom and to go to bed. The rest of the time I was in the recliner with my leg up on a pillow. For me two weeks out of my schedule was well worth the end results. I wish you the very best. -
- July 20, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Hang in there! I had a WLE on the back of my leg right below the calf muscle. It was 5″x21/2″x2″ and there was debate over a skin graft. I was told a graft in that area is hard to heal and might not take. Instead the surgeon did a fantastic job of suturing inside and out. The leg was bandaged and wrapped in an ace bandage. I was told to stay off my leg for 2 weeks and by that he meant only get up for a trip to the bathroom and to go to bed. The rest of the time I was in the recliner with my leg up on a pillow. For me two weeks out of my schedule was well worth the end results. I wish you the very best.
-
Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.