Recovery from Wide excision + skin graft (near my right ankle)
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Recovery from Wide excision + skin graft (near my right ankle)

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Recovery from Wide excision + skin graft (near my right ankle)

  • Post
    • September 30, 2013 at 1:26 pm
    JennGen719
    Participant

    I was recently diagnosed with Melanoma In Situ on my lower right leg, pretty much my ankle.  The mole (tumor?) is the size of a pencil eraser, maybe a bit smaller.  Some was already removed when the biopsy was done.  This Friday I am having surgery, a wide excision and skin graft, to remove the tumor.  I am wondering what kind of recovery I am looking at.  Such as, will it be hard to walk, painful, etc.  Also, I am NOT having a SLNB done..should that be done?  I was told since it is a very early stage that the chances it spread is very slim.   I am not freaking out as much anymore, but when I was first told I had tested positive for Melanoma I was very scared.  Should I be scared this has spread to my lympnodes?  Should I push for a SLNB?  Also, if you could tell me anything you know about what kind of recovery I am looking at.  Thanks so much. 

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  • Replies
      • September 30, 2013 at 4:33 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      The sentinel lymph node biopsy is not done for melanoma in situ.  Melanoma in situ is confined to the epidermis only and does not have access to blood or lymph vessels.  So there is no need for checking the lymph nodes.  Melanoma in situ is about as good as you get when it comes to cancer.  Watch for CHANGE and….LIVE LIFE.

      As for the recovery time, don't know.  I've had 7 or 8 WLEs for different lesions but none required a skin graft.  I had one on the front of my shin bone and that was extremely tight when walking, but was fine after a week or so.  For my WLE's (4 on legs), none required anything special except maybe a little elevation and ice at first while they were healing.  Not sure where the skin graft will put you in the recovery process, though.

      • September 30, 2013 at 4:33 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      The sentinel lymph node biopsy is not done for melanoma in situ.  Melanoma in situ is confined to the epidermis only and does not have access to blood or lymph vessels.  So there is no need for checking the lymph nodes.  Melanoma in situ is about as good as you get when it comes to cancer.  Watch for CHANGE and….LIVE LIFE.

      As for the recovery time, don't know.  I've had 7 or 8 WLEs for different lesions but none required a skin graft.  I had one on the front of my shin bone and that was extremely tight when walking, but was fine after a week or so.  For my WLE's (4 on legs), none required anything special except maybe a little elevation and ice at first while they were healing.  Not sure where the skin graft will put you in the recovery process, though.

      • September 30, 2013 at 4:33 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      The sentinel lymph node biopsy is not done for melanoma in situ.  Melanoma in situ is confined to the epidermis only and does not have access to blood or lymph vessels.  So there is no need for checking the lymph nodes.  Melanoma in situ is about as good as you get when it comes to cancer.  Watch for CHANGE and….LIVE LIFE.

      As for the recovery time, don't know.  I've had 7 or 8 WLEs for different lesions but none required a skin graft.  I had one on the front of my shin bone and that was extremely tight when walking, but was fine after a week or so.  For my WLE's (4 on legs), none required anything special except maybe a little elevation and ice at first while they were healing.  Not sure where the skin graft will put you in the recovery process, though.

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