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WLE and SNB next week. Any advice?
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WLE and SNB next week. Any advice?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › WLE and SNB next week. Any advice?

  • Post
    • March 11, 2013 at 3:51 pm
    Lacey11613
    Participant

      23 yrs old, diagnosed in January after finding a spot on the back of my left ear. Will be having a WLE, reconstruction, and SNB next week. Wondering how long recovery typically takes? Can't really find much about melanoma on the ear so sort of in the dark.

      23 yrs old, diagnosed in January after finding a spot on the back of my left ear. Will be having a WLE, reconstruction, and SNB next week. Wondering how long recovery typically takes? Can't really find much about melanoma on the ear so sort of in the dark.

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    • Replies
        • March 11, 2013 at 4:36 pm
        WayneG
        Participant

          In my case it was behind my right ear lobe.  So they zipped off the bottom 1/4 of my ear, did the WLE and SNB in a 5 hour surgery.  Had a surgical oncologist do the cutting and a plastic surgeon do the finishing up.  For me, took about 4 weeks to be presentable (of course this was 13 years ago so may be off a little and I'm sure new techniques are used today).

          For me, since still had the majority of the ear, decided not to do reconstruction because of my age – 50 at the time – and just didn't see the need.  This was done at MD Anderson and they did a fantastic job!  Most people don't even notice it.  Before I decided not to do the reconstruction, I did look at some pictures of the types of reconstruction possible and it was pretty amazing. 

          Wayne

          • March 11, 2013 at 4:36 pm
          WayneG
          Participant

            In my case it was behind my right ear lobe.  So they zipped off the bottom 1/4 of my ear, did the WLE and SNB in a 5 hour surgery.  Had a surgical oncologist do the cutting and a plastic surgeon do the finishing up.  For me, took about 4 weeks to be presentable (of course this was 13 years ago so may be off a little and I'm sure new techniques are used today).

            For me, since still had the majority of the ear, decided not to do reconstruction because of my age – 50 at the time – and just didn't see the need.  This was done at MD Anderson and they did a fantastic job!  Most people don't even notice it.  Before I decided not to do the reconstruction, I did look at some pictures of the types of reconstruction possible and it was pretty amazing. 

            Wayne

            • March 11, 2013 at 4:36 pm
            WayneG
            Participant

              In my case it was behind my right ear lobe.  So they zipped off the bottom 1/4 of my ear, did the WLE and SNB in a 5 hour surgery.  Had a surgical oncologist do the cutting and a plastic surgeon do the finishing up.  For me, took about 4 weeks to be presentable (of course this was 13 years ago so may be off a little and I'm sure new techniques are used today).

              For me, since still had the majority of the ear, decided not to do reconstruction because of my age – 50 at the time – and just didn't see the need.  This was done at MD Anderson and they did a fantastic job!  Most people don't even notice it.  Before I decided not to do the reconstruction, I did look at some pictures of the types of reconstruction possible and it was pretty amazing. 

              Wayne

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