Aloha ChristineL. Wanted to send huge mahalos for posting the above.  I ignored a lump in right groin until the point that it broke 'open' when I bumped it. A 30 year MD friend of mine looked at it and recommended immediate surgery. Within 2 weeks we were able to line up one of the best surgeons on the island for which I am extremely grateful.  My hesitation in initially have it looked at was lack of insurance and not having a clue that 'it' might be cancer.  Amazingly Medicare and a state program called Quest took care of all of the expenses, including outpatient and presecription. Maintianing a constant vigil of the JP bulb has been the biggest challenge.  Having not been given an antibiotic prescription immediately after surgery concerned me, but once started healing has been rapid.  

There have been ups and downs. I am single and live by myself, so eliciting the help of friends to do laundry, grocery shopping has been practically and emotionally helpful. Knowing that this is a 4 week recovery process is very helpful.  Before this event, I had never taken a prescription drug in my life other than for dental procedures.  Holistic practices have worked for everything else, fortunately. A full PT scan will let me know if I am affected in other areas.

Information given to me on use of Frankincense Oil that has no known side affects and many reports of use by German doctors for brain cancer encourged me to try this on a small double lump in left groin area. I have used this for only 4 days and have noticed a decrease in size, so am going to continue with the FO treatment. I am using a large flexible bandaid and soaking the pad of it with FO and leaving it there. It has been reported that stage 4 ovarian cancer has been removed in about six months time.  It certainly can't hurt to continue with this. I plan to continue the medical approach as an option at the same time and will report results to you in near future. 

I need to get back to resting (library is my new friend) and get away from computer.  Hopefully this info will be of help to others.  Who would even suspect that melanoma can affect the groin area. My encouragement is when doubt, have it checked out and don't wait as long as I did. 

Blessing to All,   Skye

Aloha ChristineL. Wanted to send huge mahalos for posting the above.  I ignored a lump in right groin until the point that it broke 'open' when I bumped it. A 30 year MD friend of mine looked at it and recommended immediate surgery. Within 2 weeks we were able to line up one of the best surgeons on the island for which I am extremely grateful.  My hesitation in initially have it looked at was lack of insurance and not having a clue that 'it' might be cancer.  Amazingly Medicare and a state program called Quest took care of all of the expenses, including outpatient and presecription. Maintianing a constant vigil of the JP bulb has been the biggest challenge.  Having not been given an antibiotic prescription immediately after surgery concerned me, but once started healing has been rapid.  

There have been ups and downs. I am single and live by myself, so eliciting the help of friends to do laundry, grocery shopping has been practically and emotionally helpful. Knowing that this is a 4 week recovery process is very helpful.  Before this event, I had never taken a prescription drug in my life other than for dental procedures.  Holistic practices have worked for everything else, fortunately. A full PT scan will let me know if I am affected in other areas.

Information given to me on use of Frankincense Oil that has no known side affects and many reports of use by German doctors for brain cancer encourged me to try this on a small double lump in left groin area. I have used this for only 4 days and have noticed a decrease in size, so am going to continue with the FO treatment. I am using a large flexible bandaid and soaking the pad of it with FO and leaving it there. It has been reported that stage 4 ovarian cancer has been removed in about six months time.  It certainly can't hurt to continue with this. I plan to continue the medical approach as an option at the same time and will report results to you in near future. 

I need to get back to resting (library is my new friend) and get away from computer.  Hopefully this info will be of help to others.  Who would even suspect that melanoma can affect the groin area. My encouragement is when doubt, have it checked out and don't wait as long as I did. 

Blessing to All,   Skye

Aloha ChristineL. Wanted to send huge mahalos for posting the above.  I ignored a lump in right groin until the point that it broke 'open' when I bumped it. A 30 year MD friend of mine looked at it and recommended immediate surgery. Within 2 weeks we were able to line up one of the best surgeons on the island for which I am extremely grateful.  My hesitation in initially have it looked at was lack of insurance and not having a clue that 'it' might be cancer.  Amazingly Medicare and a state program called Quest took care of all of the expenses, including outpatient and presecription. Maintianing a constant vigil of the JP bulb has been the biggest challenge.  Having not been given an antibiotic prescription immediately after surgery concerned me, but once started healing has been rapid.  

There have been ups and downs. I am single and live by myself, so eliciting the help of friends to do laundry, grocery shopping has been practically and emotionally helpful. Knowing that this is a 4 week recovery process is very helpful.  Before this event, I had never taken a prescription drug in my life other than for dental procedures.  Holistic practices have worked for everything else, fortunately. A full PT scan will let me know if I am affected in other areas.

Information given to me on use of Frankincense Oil that has no known side affects and many reports of use by German doctors for brain cancer encourged me to try this on a small double lump in left groin area. I have used this for only 4 days and have noticed a decrease in size, so am going to continue with the FO treatment. I am using a large flexible bandaid and soaking the pad of it with FO and leaving it there. It has been reported that stage 4 ovarian cancer has been removed in about six months time.  It certainly can't hurt to continue with this. I plan to continue the medical approach as an option at the same time and will report results to you in near future. 

I need to get back to resting (library is my new friend) and get away from computer.  Hopefully this info will be of help to others.  Who would even suspect that melanoma can affect the groin area. My encouragement is when doubt, have it checked out and don't wait as long as I did. 

Blessing to All,   Skye

I concur with Springbok about questioning the need, which is why there is a trial currently recruiting which has some patients undergoing lymphadenectomy and some doing watch and wait.  I have been told varying numbers for lymphedema (from 7% to 30%), but again, these are just stats.  A lot of this depends on age, weight, health, etc., and if it happens, the degree to which it may affect your life depends on your lifestyle.  It may also depend on the surgeon (why I went with someone who does this a lot vs. my local surgical oncologist who did my SNB).  It's a very serious decision/choice.  Get as much info as possible!

Best,

ChristineL

I concur with Springbok about questioning the need, which is why there is a trial currently recruiting which has some patients undergoing lymphadenectomy and some doing watch and wait.  I have been told varying numbers for lymphedema (from 7% to 30%), but again, these are just stats.  A lot of this depends on age, weight, health, etc., and if it happens, the degree to which it may affect your life depends on your lifestyle.  It may also depend on the surgeon (why I went with someone who does this a lot vs. my local surgical oncologist who did my SNB).  It's a very serious decision/choice.  Get as much info as possible!

Best,

ChristineL

Hi,

I had lymph nodes removed from my right groin.  They did not take all of them, are you sure they are taking all of yours or just ones that are effected?     It took me a month to fully recover.  Mine took a long time because to get at the tumor that was in lymph nodes,  they had to cut muscle and nerves, not sure if that is what most people go thru.  So recovery involved getting muscle back to working 100%.    I had the scar tissue lump for almost 6 months or more and that did bother me a lot when I sat.    I dont have lymphdema, but do wear compression stocking when my leg feels sore or tight and walk alot.  good luck

laurie from maine 

Hi,

I had lymph nodes removed from my right groin.  They did not take all of them, are you sure they are taking all of yours or just ones that are effected?     It took me a month to fully recover.  Mine took a long time because to get at the tumor that was in lymph nodes,  they had to cut muscle and nerves, not sure if that is what most people go thru.  So recovery involved getting muscle back to working 100%.    I had the scar tissue lump for almost 6 months or more and that did bother me a lot when I sat.    I dont have lymphdema, but do wear compression stocking when my leg feels sore or tight and walk alot.  good luck

laurie from maine 

Hi Michele, so how did the surgery turn out?  I had just went through a complete lymph node dissection in my left groin.  Everything went well but a week later after my follow-up I had the drain removed, but came down with a fever and the wound developed an infection.  It's been 3 days now on antibiotics, no pain, just antibiotics.

Hi Michele, so how did the surgery turn out?  I had just went through a complete lymph node dissection in my left groin.  Everything went well but a week later after my follow-up I had the drain removed, but came down with a fever and the wound developed an infection.  It's been 3 days now on antibiotics, no pain, just antibiotics.

Hi Michele, so how did the surgery turn out?  I had just went through a complete lymph node dissection in my left groin.  Everything went well but a week later after my follow-up I had the drain removed, but came down with a fever and the wound developed an infection.  It's been 3 days now on antibiotics, no pain, just antibiotics.

Doug,

I had the lymph nodes removed from my left armpit and it was definitely inpatient.  I believe the groin is even slightly more invasive so you can definitely plan on inpatient.  It's been a few years but I think I spent at least 2 nights in the hospital.  I was pretty sore afterwards.  Had a drain installed for about 10 days. 

Your comment about having the lymph nodes removed "still being the right move" is an interesting one.  I'm sure it's still considered the "standard" procedure and per the current text book on how to treat melanoma but there are some beginning to question the benefits vs. risk.  I'll see if I can find a study I remember seeing a while back.  Maybe someone else will remember it and post.  I think it was a study where instead of removing the lymph nodes they took a watch and wait approach with periodic ultra sounds for early detection. 

Brian

Didn't find the study info I was looking for but found a few threads you might find helpful.

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/ultrasounds-detect-melanoma

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/has-anyone-rejected-clnd

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/fresh-approaches-treating

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/snl-micromets-complete-dissection

Didn't find the study info I was looking for but found a few threads you might find helpful.

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/ultrasounds-detect-melanoma

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/has-anyone-rejected-clnd

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/fresh-approaches-treating

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/snl-micromets-complete-dissection

Didn't find the study info I was looking for but found a few threads you might find helpful.

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/ultrasounds-detect-melanoma

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/has-anyone-rejected-clnd

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/fresh-approaches-treating

http://www.melanoma.org/find-support/patient-community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/snl-micromets-complete-dissection

Brian 

You are thinking about the MSLT I study results reported in the New England Journal of Medicine 

the N Engl J Med 2014 Feb 13; 370:599-609

the preliminary data for the MSLT II study, which just stopped enrolling patients in April so there isn't much in the way of data yet. 

Brian 

You are thinking about the MSLT I study results reported in the New England Journal of Medicine 

the N Engl J Med 2014 Feb 13; 370:599-609

the preliminary data for the MSLT II study, which just stopped enrolling patients in April so there isn't much in the way of data yet. 

Brian 

You are thinking about the MSLT I study results reported in the New England Journal of Medicine 

the N Engl J Med 2014 Feb 13; 370:599-609

the preliminary data for the MSLT II study, which just stopped enrolling patients in April so there isn't much in the way of data yet. 

Thank you, Brian, for your information. I saw two melanoma specialists in the closest major urban area to us, one who recommended "watch and wait" and one that recommended the surgery. I've decided to go with the surgery, as I don't think I could live with "watch and wait." The waiting would be too anxiety-producing.

The surgeon said probably 2 nights in the hospital but I've read that some patients require up to 8. The surgeon said that because I'm not obese, fit, male and relatively young the risk of complication is quite low.

I've found many studies questioning the benefit of lymph node dissection but until "the" major study (MLST 2, I believe it's called) is completed, the surgery is still the "standard of care."

Thank you again,

Doug

Thank you, Brian, for your information. I saw two melanoma specialists in the closest major urban area to us, one who recommended "watch and wait" and one that recommended the surgery. I've decided to go with the surgery, as I don't think I could live with "watch and wait." The waiting would be too anxiety-producing.

The surgeon said probably 2 nights in the hospital but I've read that some patients require up to 8. The surgeon said that because I'm not obese, fit, male and relatively young the risk of complication is quite low.

I've found many studies questioning the benefit of lymph node dissection but until "the" major study (MLST 2, I believe it's called) is completed, the surgery is still the "standard of care."

Thank you again,

Doug

Thank you, Brian, for your information. I saw two melanoma specialists in the closest major urban area to us, one who recommended "watch and wait" and one that recommended the surgery. I've decided to go with the surgery, as I don't think I could live with "watch and wait." The waiting would be too anxiety-producing.

The surgeon said probably 2 nights in the hospital but I've read that some patients require up to 8. The surgeon said that because I'm not obese, fit, male and relatively young the risk of complication is quite low.

I've found many studies questioning the benefit of lymph node dissection but until "the" major study (MLST 2, I believe it's called) is completed, the surgery is still the "standard of care."

Thank you again,

Doug

Doug,

I had the lymph nodes removed from my left armpit and it was definitely inpatient.  I believe the groin is even slightly more invasive so you can definitely plan on inpatient.  It's been a few years but I think I spent at least 2 nights in the hospital.  I was pretty sore afterwards.  Had a drain installed for about 10 days. 

Your comment about having the lymph nodes removed "still being the right move" is an interesting one.  I'm sure it's still considered the "standard" procedure and per the current text book on how to treat melanoma but there are some beginning to question the benefits vs. risk.  I'll see if I can find a study I remember seeing a while back.  Maybe someone else will remember it and post.  I think it was a study where instead of removing the lymph nodes they took a watch and wait approach with periodic ultra sounds for early detection. 

Brian

Doug,

I had the lymph nodes removed from my left armpit and it was definitely inpatient.  I believe the groin is even slightly more invasive so you can definitely plan on inpatient.  It's been a few years but I think I spent at least 2 nights in the hospital.  I was pretty sore afterwards.  Had a drain installed for about 10 days. 

Your comment about having the lymph nodes removed "still being the right move" is an interesting one.  I'm sure it's still considered the "standard" procedure and per the current text book on how to treat melanoma but there are some beginning to question the benefits vs. risk.  I'll see if I can find a study I remember seeing a while back.  Maybe someone else will remember it and post.  I think it was a study where instead of removing the lymph nodes they took a watch and wait approach with periodic ultra sounds for early detection. 

Brian