Melanoma

Morwenna

Hi

My triple negative breast cancer was nearly 10 years ago, and I have been well, but a few weeks back noticed a pre-existing mole on my left shoulder/upper back was changing in appearance and texture, and now it's been removed I'm diagnosed with stage 1b melanoma.

It needs a wide local excision to clear margins, which I'm ok about, but I'm waiting to hear from the cancer centre to discuss sentinel node sampling to stage it accurately.

It's my previous breast cancer side and I had 1/4 positive sentinel nodes back then, followed by another 7 from my axillary- all negative. I do have mild lymphedema.

So I'm a little nervous about where they will take the sentinel nodes for my melanoma, whether this will exacerbate my lymphedema in the left arm or trunk, and whether the fact that I have previous axillary node surgery will have any bearing on the melanoma spread.

Has anyone been through anything similar? Coming up up 10 years cancer free after triple negative breast cancer, I kind of thought I was done with cancer! 😳

Any thoughts or words of wisdom or support gratefully received! ❤

Rah2464

Morwenna so very sorry to hear about your melanoma diagnosis. I remember when I was first diagnosed my MO telling me that BC and melanoma were related cancers which tied in with my family history.

I haven't had your experience but I also have mild truncal and arm lymphedema after having four nodes removed. I did experience a flare up after a revision surgery in 2020 when we did a bit of lipo to try and fill out around my implants. But lipo is aggressive and makes sense that it aggravated my lymphedema. Are your surgeons aware of your lymphedema? Certainly I would think there is a chance you can aggravate it but perhaps the medical team can take extra precautions to reduce impact. Hope the surgery goes very well for you

Morwenna

Hi, and thanks for your reply.

To update, I saw the oncology surgeon and we decided the risk of lymph node biopsy outweighed the likelihood of spread to the nodes, so was referred back to the other clinic and had a wide excision a week ago, which was pretty damn quick really.

So now I'm recovering from that, and waiting for pathology report, which will hopefully say they got it all, and I've been referred to a different (lady) dermatologist, at my request, who I hear is excellent! So looking forward to meeting with her in due course.

My arm lymphedema was not impacted by the surgery, thus far, but I have felt a bit puffy in my upper trunk, behind the left armpit area. Nothing too bad.....

Have a great day, and stay well everyone!

Rah2464

Morwenna glad the surgery went well I hope you get those clean margins. For what it is worth, there is a great light compression bra made by Wear Ease called the Sydney bra that is excellent for truncal and breast lymphedema. MinusTwo told me about it and I have to say when that area flares up it is my go to for relief.

Morwenna

Oh thanks

I am aware of Wearease, but have never worn any of their products... seem to recall they are a bit pricey! 😶

Morwenna

Pathology report is clear margins, so just have to heal up and get regular checks now in case it happens again!

Happy to "draw a line" under this episode!

Veeder14

Congratulations on clear margins and best wishes for healing

Morwenna

Thanks! ☺