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1 year cancer free…but have a question.
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1 year cancer free…but have a question.

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › 1 year cancer free…but have a question.

  • Post
    • July 20, 2012 at 12:24 am
    AZ_Gal
    Participant

      I had my WLE and LB on Aug 5th, 2011 and almost a year later I am cancer free! YAY! However, I have some sort of cyst or fluid filled pocket in the incision where my WLE was. My PCP doesn't seem to be bothered by it and I see my Derm this coming Monday. I am supposed to be seeing a Derm every 6 months but because I live in an extremely remote area I have yet to see one since my surgery last Aug. (2011) Just wondering if any of you had ever had this problem, or heard of it. Hoping it's just fluid buildup but a little nervous. ANy help is appreciated…THANKS!

      I had my WLE and LB on Aug 5th, 2011 and almost a year later I am cancer free! YAY! However, I have some sort of cyst or fluid filled pocket in the incision where my WLE was. My PCP doesn't seem to be bothered by it and I see my Derm this coming Monday. I am supposed to be seeing a Derm every 6 months but because I live in an extremely remote area I have yet to see one since my surgery last Aug. (2011) Just wondering if any of you had ever had this problem, or heard of it. Hoping it's just fluid buildup but a little nervous. ANy help is appreciated…THANKS!

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • July 20, 2012 at 12:29 am
        AZ_Gal
        Participant

          meant to say SNB not LB. sorry

          • July 20, 2012 at 12:29 am
          AZ_Gal
          Participant

            meant to say SNB not LB. sorry

            • July 20, 2012 at 12:29 am
            AZ_Gal
            Participant

              meant to say SNB not LB. sorry

              • July 20, 2012 at 2:56 am
              washoegal
              Participant

                You didn't say when this started to occur but yes I had something similar.  It is likely lymph fluid that has built up in one spot, call a sarcoma. This is quite common.  It is only a major worry is if it bursts.  If you can do it, a lymphodema massage therapist would be a help.  Once the derm confirms that this is what it is, if a message therapist is just too inconvenient,  I was advised to put a warm wash cloth on it to help disperse the fluid. 

                In my case the warm rag didn't work and it burst.  Wasn't the end of the world.  But the lymph fluid causes some nasty burning on the surrounding skin and since I had all my lymph nodes removed there was the fear of infection.  Luckily I was smart enough to get to the emergency room where they showed me proper wound care so there was really no harm done. 

                I hope that that is all you are experiencing.  Let us know.

                Mary

                Stage3

                  • July 20, 2012 at 4:17 am
                  gabsound
                  Participant
                    Mary- I think you meant seroma not sarcoma. Just don’t want anyone to google sarcoma which is another kind of cancer.

                    I also had a seroma after surgery although it occurred close to the time of surgery not a year later. To be on the safe side I’d ask for an ultrasound which is good at determining if something is just fluid or possibly something more concerning.

                    Julie in Las Vegas

                    • July 20, 2012 at 4:17 am
                    gabsound
                    Participant
                      Mary- I think you meant seroma not sarcoma. Just don’t want anyone to google sarcoma which is another kind of cancer.

                      I also had a seroma after surgery although it occurred close to the time of surgery not a year later. To be on the safe side I’d ask for an ultrasound which is good at determining if something is just fluid or possibly something more concerning.

                      Julie in Las Vegas

                      • July 20, 2012 at 4:17 am
                      gabsound
                      Participant
                        Mary- I think you meant seroma not sarcoma. Just don’t want anyone to google sarcoma which is another kind of cancer.

                        I also had a seroma after surgery although it occurred close to the time of surgery not a year later. To be on the safe side I’d ask for an ultrasound which is good at determining if something is just fluid or possibly something more concerning.

                        Julie in Las Vegas

                      • July 20, 2012 at 2:56 am
                      washoegal
                      Participant

                        You didn't say when this started to occur but yes I had something similar.  It is likely lymph fluid that has built up in one spot, call a sarcoma. This is quite common.  It is only a major worry is if it bursts.  If you can do it, a lymphodema massage therapist would be a help.  Once the derm confirms that this is what it is, if a message therapist is just too inconvenient,  I was advised to put a warm wash cloth on it to help disperse the fluid. 

                        In my case the warm rag didn't work and it burst.  Wasn't the end of the world.  But the lymph fluid causes some nasty burning on the surrounding skin and since I had all my lymph nodes removed there was the fear of infection.  Luckily I was smart enough to get to the emergency room where they showed me proper wound care so there was really no harm done. 

                        I hope that that is all you are experiencing.  Let us know.

                        Mary

                        Stage3

                        • July 20, 2012 at 2:56 am
                        washoegal
                        Participant

                          You didn't say when this started to occur but yes I had something similar.  It is likely lymph fluid that has built up in one spot, call a sarcoma. This is quite common.  It is only a major worry is if it bursts.  If you can do it, a lymphodema massage therapist would be a help.  Once the derm confirms that this is what it is, if a message therapist is just too inconvenient,  I was advised to put a warm wash cloth on it to help disperse the fluid. 

                          In my case the warm rag didn't work and it burst.  Wasn't the end of the world.  But the lymph fluid causes some nasty burning on the surrounding skin and since I had all my lymph nodes removed there was the fear of infection.  Luckily I was smart enough to get to the emergency room where they showed me proper wound care so there was really no harm done. 

                          I hope that that is all you are experiencing.  Let us know.

                          Mary

                          Stage3

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