regwash

One thing that helps immensely is written all over this website...these days melanoma is NOT a death sentence. There are people here who have been thriving for YEARS even after receiving a stage 4 diagnosis. Take one day at a time and focus on what you know, not what MIGHT happen. Right now you know it MAY be an issue. When you find out the results, then you can focus on what you know then to be true.

Praying for clear results!
- Regina

I was diagnosed in March, had the WLE in April. With regard to the red, scabby, eczema like patch you’re experiencing, my question for you is, is this anywhere near where you might have had any kind of bandage? I believe I’ve had the same symptoms and it always occurred where I had different types of bandages throughout the process. My husband and I are thinking it was a skin reaction to the sticky part of the bandage or the different tapes that were used. Especially since you say it now seems to be going away – so does mine, as my incision is healed for the most part and I’m not wearing any type of bandage, I would assume you aren’t either, since you had everything done earlier in the year.

Praying you get some answers!
Regina

I can completely understand your concern. I had an odd looking mole for about 6 months to a year (I’m not exactly sure the timeline but I know it was more than 6 months) before I felt an overwhelming urge to get it checked out. Turned out to be stage 1b melanoma.
I worried while waiting for the initial derm appt, then worried for a week while waiting for those results. Then worried another 2 weeks waiting for the surgical oncology appt. then worried another 2 weeks waiting for the surgery.
Now I’m almost 2 weeks post-surgery (and got all clear results!) and realized I wasted a little over a month worrying over something 1. I couldn’t do anything about and 2. didn’t turn out to be as bad as it could have been. You mentioned your wife and daughter so I’ll tell you something that put it in perspective for me – I don’t know how old your daughter is, but my youngest is almost 4 months so wasting even just ONE month worrying instead of absorbing all the good times with her was not worth it!
Praying you get good results from your biopsies. – R

Hi Ashley! While I am even newer to all this than you are, I was recently diagnosed with stage 1b (and I am also 30) and have tried to amass as much info as possible. I just had my WLE and SLNB this week. 

it is my understanding that the most recent studies have found SLNB becomes beneficial after the lesion is found to be of .80 thickness  without ulceration OR thinner than that with ulceration.

Did you ever have a WLE/SLNB for your original lesion? Or a WLE for the second 1b they found? What was the thickness on the 2 lesions? I believe 1b is .80 mm – 1 mm.