nyalt

I wanted to post back and thank you all for your thoughts on the pathology report and my questions on what I should ask.  I had the WLE and the 2nd path report came back clear.  My doctor said that I would need follow up frequently over the next few years.  So thank you all!

I wanted to post back and thank you all for your thoughts on the pathology report and my questions on what I should ask.  I had the WLE and the 2nd path report came back clear.  My doctor said that I would need follow up frequently over the next few years.  So thank you all!

Hi Linda, to answer your questions — the short answer is the doctor said to keep it covered. And the infection delayed and complicated the process. At my last visit he said it would be about approximately 2 weeks until it was ready to be 'uncovered' but I think it's just been slow going.  It is startin to look more 'done' though, so that's good!

I had a conversation w/ doctor about the various theories of wound care and skin surgery – so I do know that many doctors take different approaches — anywhere from requiring all patients to take oral antibiotics ahead of surgery to those that say only vaseline on a wound after surgery.

Thanks!

Hi Linda, to answer your questions — the short answer is the doctor said to keep it covered. And the infection delayed and complicated the process. At my last visit he said it would be about approximately 2 weeks until it was ready to be 'uncovered' but I think it's just been slow going.  It is startin to look more 'done' though, so that's good!

I had a conversation w/ doctor about the various theories of wound care and skin surgery – so I do know that many doctors take different approaches — anywhere from requiring all patients to take oral antibiotics ahead of surgery to those that say only vaseline on a wound after surgery.

Thanks!

Thanks Karen, I had no idea what a WLE was either.  Mine was smaller in length than yours, but is still healing. The wound is still wound-y and I'm still doing the antibiotic ointment + bandage each day until it is 'done'.  I'm curious what this is going to look like when it's 'done' enough to go without a bandage!

Thanks Karen, I had no idea what a WLE was either.  Mine was smaller in length than yours, but is still healing. The wound is still wound-y and I'm still doing the antibiotic ointment + bandage each day until it is 'done'.  I'm curious what this is going to look like when it's 'done' enough to go without a bandage!

Thank you Emily!  My WLE was much, much smaller but even over a month out, it's still taking a while to heal (the infection set back the process).

Thank you Emily!  My WLE was much, much smaller but even over a month out, it's still taking a while to heal (the infection set back the process).

Thanks Janner!  I'll be keeping an eye on it (or rather, my husband will, I can't see it easily in the mirror). I think it's healing slower b/c of the infection, though it seems to be doing well. From time to time it still hurts (kind of a sharp stabbing feeling and sometimes a little ache), I would guess that's normal b/c they took out more tissue and it seems that's what you and others say so I'll just chalk it up to normal.

Thanks Janner!  I'll be keeping an eye on it (or rather, my husband will, I can't see it easily in the mirror). I think it's healing slower b/c of the infection, though it seems to be doing well. From time to time it still hurts (kind of a sharp stabbing feeling and sometimes a little ache), I would guess that's normal b/c they took out more tissue and it seems that's what you and others say so I'll just chalk it up to normal.

Michael, thank you for your interpretation of the path report.  I'm not sure if I'd feel better if the report had been able to say 100% whether it is a dysplastic nevus or m-in situ, but am reassured that the recommended procedure is the same for both scenarios.

thank you!

Michael, thank you for your interpretation of the path report.  I'm not sure if I'd feel better if the report had been able to say 100% whether it is a dysplastic nevus or m-in situ, but am reassured that the recommended procedure is the same for both scenarios.

thank you!

Janner, thank you for your detailed & clearly well thought out response.  I really, really appreciate it. And yes, I think 'regs' meant regulars – the person who referred me is from an anonymous board. I assume the 2nd excision will be sent to the dermatopathology lab as well.  And I am feeling more confident today about the 2nd excision. I had been so focused on the report that I hadn't really thought about how it is same recommended treatment for either Dx.  Nor had I really considered the CYA (cover your a**) possibility of an M-in-situ diagnosis. Thank you again for your response.

Thank you to all for helping sort this out.

I will post back when I have the 2nd results.

Janner, thank you for your detailed & clearly well thought out response.  I really, really appreciate it. And yes, I think 'regs' meant regulars – the person who referred me is from an anonymous board. I assume the 2nd excision will be sent to the dermatopathology lab as well.  And I am feeling more confident today about the 2nd excision. I had been so focused on the report that I hadn't really thought about how it is same recommended treatment for either Dx.  Nor had I really considered the CYA (cover your a**) possibility of an M-in-situ diagnosis. Thank you again for your response.

Thank you to all for helping sort this out.

I will post back when I have the 2nd results.

Thank you for your reply.

I'm most concerned b/c from what I've read so far the description from my report matches the description of melanoma, and my doctor was very clear to state that:

we cannot say it isn't melanoma, they are not sure if it is, and this needs to be removed very quickly.

The irony here is that except for sun exposure as a child, I have always avoided the sun, and been a big user of sunscreen and staying in the shade.  No family history of this that I know of.  I have been getting regular skin checks by a derm each year.   Thanks again for your response!