Treadlightly

Hey Tom,

I am so glad to hear there was no spread of the melanoma to the lymph nodes. That is a very positive sign. Sounds like they have put together a very aggressive treatment plan, which should certainly do the trick.

Do your best to keep a positive outlook…It can make all the difference. You have every reason to believe that you will beat this!

Best of luck with your reconstruction procedures!
Mark (2A)

Hello Again,

Initially, my dermatologist referred me to a melanoma specialist at a major university hospital. In that department I was also assigned a surgical oncologist who did the SNLB and WLE. A plastic surgeon stepped in to place a temporary wound covering over the 3 inch diameter hole in my heel (down to cartilage and bone) using cadaver skin. I was then sent home for a week awaiting the biopsy results of my SNLB And WLE margins. Only after I got a negative biopsy result did my second procedure take place. To reconstruct my heel, A limb reconstruction specialist plastic surgeon performed a full-thickness skin graft from the thigh of my unaffected leg with micro-vascular vein attachments. A year later I had another touchup procedure where the graft was de-bulked and tightened up. I got an amazing outcome with an absolutely complete return to all function and activities.

I look forward to hearing more details as you progress with your care.

Best of luck!
Mark 2A

In my experience, dermotologists are usually rather receptive to the requests of their patients. If you say you absolutely want it biopsied, they usually will go along with it…as long as it is not a frivolous issue, which this does not sound to be.

Best of luck!
Mark

Hi Elaine,

I had a melanoma removed (WLE)…nearly 10 years ago, and I still get twitches in the area. I have even felt sharp stabbing pains that lasted only a split-second in the surrounding skin. I will say that every year the sensations have been less intense and less frequent, but I do still get twitches. I attribute all of this to the nerves that were severed and damaged in the 4 surgeries that I endured as I traversed my treatment journey. I suspect that what you have been feeling is similar to what I have experienced since my melanoma surgery.

Of course, you should always tell your doctor about any observations you have, at the next opportunity.

Best regards,
Mark 2A

Tlynam,

So sorry to hear what you have been going through. I had a full thickness skin graft 10 years ago on my heel. My plastic surgeon told me that he purposely put extra skin on, which left the graft a bit floppy, because he said the post-op swelling can cause harmful tension on the stitches. Then, after the initial surgery healed, about a year later, my doctor did another procedure where he pulled it tighter and trimmed off the access skin from one side of the graft. All in all, the outcome was fantastic, and the edges all healed very well.

I have seen where plastic surgeons have implanted a tissue expander, which is like a balloon, below the skin next to the graft, and then injected saline gradually into the tissue expander which causes the skin to stretch. Then they can go back and remove the tissue expander, and pull the skin tight to try to improve the perimeter continuity. It seems like a lot to go through, but in the end it could be worth it. Also, if successful, it could reduce the size of the graft.

Best of luck,
Mark 2A

I am a 9 year survivor of stage 2A Melanoma, and since my diagnosis, I have had multiple suspicious moles removed during my many regular skin check appointments. One in particular stands out to me because it was remove solely because it was the darkest mole on my body. It was not particularly large, but it appeared almost black. I remember my doctor saying “let’s get that out of here.” It turned out to be absolutely nothing.

Waiting for biopsy results is the absolute worst. I recommend that you do everything you can to distract yourself from thinking about it…and absolutely do not do any Google searches. There is no point in fretting about something that is very, VERY unlikely to actually happen.

Best of luck to you on getting good news!
Mark

Hi MMH,

I am 10 years NED, and had a full-thickness skin graft after a WLE for an Acral Lentiginous melanoma lesion on my heel.

In the post-op period, following my healing, I noticed more than one small dark spot in the scar tissue on the perimeter of my graft. For the first one I found, my doctor removed it with a punch biopsy. It came back benign. I have had a couple more since then, but my doctors have never even mentioned them during my regular check-ups.

I have seen and responded to other posts on this forum over the years regarding this phenomenon. It apparently is quite common for these discolorations to occur within scar tissue.

I would recommend that you show it to your doctor, but in the meantime, you should rest assured that it is most-likely not harmful.

Take care,
Mark (2A)

Hey Bill,

Thanks for the update. Sounds like a good plan, and a promising prognosis. Good to hear the other spot turned out to be nothing.

I had a major slice taken out of my thigh for my graft, and it left my remaining leg skin extremely tight. Every day the tension relieved a little bit and I think within a week or so I was essentially back to normal skin tension. The skin has an amazing ability to stretch under tension. However, in your case…getting a free brow lift is a nice bonus.

Hoping and praying for the best possible outcome for you,
Mark (2A)

Hi Mr. Bill,

That is really good to hear. It is all about these kind of individual victories…one at a time!

Now, we sprint to the next hurdle. This is a race you can…and will win! Keep busy and stay positive!!!

Please keep us posted on your progress.

Best of luck,
Mark 2A (10 years NED)

Hi Mr. Bill,

I am sure your lesion was obscured by your hair, but were you able to see or feel any thing in the area of the bleeding before or after your original golf cart incident?

I had a similar thing happened to me. I found a brown stain on my heel where I thought I might have stepped in grease in my garage. I tried to remove it with a callous file, and it began bleeding immediately and I knew that was not normal, so I went to the doctor. Then…yada yada yada…my biopsy came back malignant melanoma.

The depth of your lesion pushes you into the stage 2 range at a minimum, but don’t be freaked out by that. Mine was almost 4 mm deep and I still wound up being stage 2A. However, I agree with the earlier comment that you should double-check that your biopsy doctor knew that you had a fresh laceration, and most-likely scabbing, from the golf cart incident. Even though mine had bled from the callus file, my biopsy results came back with no ulceration. But the time from my initial bleeding until my biopsy appointment was a good couple of weeks. I first had to schedule an appointment with my primary care doctor, who referred me to a dermatologist, and the dermatologist appointment was only a consult, so I had to schedule another dermatologist appointment for the actual biopsy.

As the previous response indicated you will need a SNLB and WLE as a first procedure. Hopefully the SNLB will come back negative and then you will be done with your treatment.

It is great that the board will review your case, but do not to let too much time pass before you get your SNLB/WLE. Early intervention is the best prevention of a more serious spreading of melanoma. You will find that you need to be your own best advocate for your care. Ask questions, and don’t be afraid to challenge your caregivers judgments, decisions, and recommendations. Always push them to get the fastest and best treatment possible.

By the way… I love the reference to Mr. Bill. It is very important to keep a positive attitude!

My case was in 2010, and I have been NED ever since my SNLB/WLE. You are going to be fine, but you’re in for a bit of a roller coaster ride. Buckle your seatbelt and get started on your road to recovery, and a healthy, long life.

Best of luck,
Mark

Hi Mr. Bill,

I am sure your lesion was obscured by your hair, but were you able to see or feel any thing in the area of the bleeding before or after your original golf cart incident?

I had a similar thing happened to me. I found a brown stain on my heel where I thought I might have stepped in grease in my garage. I tried to remove it with a callous file, and it began bleeding immediately and I knew that was not normal, so I went to the doctor. Then…yada yada yada…my biopsy came back malignant melanoma.

The depth of your lesion pushes you into the stage 2 range at a minimum, but don’t be freaked out by that. Mine was almost 4 mm deep and I still wound up being stage 2A. However, I agree with the earlier comment that you should double-check that your biopsy doctor knew that you had a fresh laceration, and most-likely scabbing, from the golf cart incident. Even though mine had bled from the callus file, my biopsy results came back with no ulceration. But the time from my initial bleeding until my biopsy appointment was a good couple of weeks. I first had to schedule an appointment with my primary care doctor, who referred me to a dermatologist, and the dermatologist appointment was only a consult, so I had to schedule another dermatologist appointment for the actual biopsy.

As the previous response indicated you will need a SNLB and WLE as a first procedure. Hopefully the SNLB will come back negative and then you will be done with your treatment.

It is great that the board will review your case, but do not to let too much time pass before you get your SNLB/WLE. Early intervention is the best prevention of a more serious spreading of melanoma. You will find that you need to be your own best advocate for your care. Ask questions, and don’t be afraid to challenge your caregivers judgments, decisions, and recommendations. Always push them to get the fastest and best treatment possible.

By the way… I love the reference to Mr. Bill. It is very important to keep a positive attitude!

My case was in 2010, and I have been NED ever since my SNLB/WLE. You are going to be fine, but you’re in for a bit of a roller coaster ride. Buckle your seatbelt and get started on your road to recovery, and a healthy, long life.

Best of luck,
Mark

Hi Mr. Bill,

I am sure your lesion was obscured by your hair, but were you able to see or feel any thing in the area of the bleeding before or after your original golf cart incident?

I had a similar thing happened to me. I found a brown stain on my heel where I thought I might have stepped in grease in my garage. I tried to remove it with a callous file, and it began bleeding immediately and I knew that was not normal, so I went to the doctor. Then…yada yada yada…my biopsy came back malignant melanoma.

The depth of your lesion pushes you into the stage 2 range at a minimum, but don’t be freaked out by that. Mine was almost 4 mm deep and I still wound up being stage 2A. However, I agree with the earlier comment that you should double-check that your biopsy doctor knew that you had a fresh laceration, and most-likely scabbing, from the golf cart incident. Even though mine had bled from the callus file, my biopsy results came back with no ulceration. But the time from my initial bleeding until my biopsy appointment was a good couple of weeks. I first had to schedule an appointment with my primary care doctor, who referred me to a dermatologist, and the dermatologist appointment was only a consult, so I had to schedule another dermatologist appointment for the actual biopsy.

As the previous response indicated you will need a SNLB and WLE as a first procedure. Hopefully the SNLB will come back negative and then you will be done with your treatment.

It is great that the board will review your case, but do not to let too much time pass before you get your SNLB/WLE. Early intervention is the best prevention of a more serious spreading of melanoma. You will find that you need to be your own best advocate for your care. Ask questions, and don’t be afraid to challenge your caregivers judgments, decisions, and recommendations. Always push them to get the fastest and best treatment possible.

By the way… I love the reference to Mr. Bill. It is very important to keep a positive attitude!

My case was in 2010, and I have been NED ever since my SNLB/WLE. You are going to be fine, but you’re in for a bit of a roller coaster ride. Buckle your seatbelt and get started on your road to recovery, and a healthy, long life.

Best of luck,
Mark

Hi Mr. Bill,

I am sure your lesion was obscured by your hair, but were you able to see or feel any thing in the area of the bleeding before or after your original golf cart incident?

I had a similar thing happened to me. I found a brown stain on my heel where I thought I might have stepped in grease in my garage. I tried to remove it with a callous file, and it began bleeding immediately and I knew that was not normal, so I went to the doctor. Then…yada yada yada…my biopsy came back malignant melanoma.

The depth of your lesion pushes you into the stage 2 range at a minimum, but don’t be freaked out by that. Mine was almost 4 mm deep and I still wound up being stage 2A. However, I agree with the earlier comment that you should double-check that your biopsy doctor knew that you had a fresh laceration, and most-likely scabbing, from the golf cart incident. Even though mine had bled from the callus file, my biopsy results came back with no ulceration. But the time from my initial bleeding until my biopsy appointment was a good couple of weeks. I first had to schedule an appointment with my primary care doctor, who referred me to a dermatologist, and the dermatologist appointment was only a consult, so I had to schedule another dermatologist appointment for the actual biopsy.

As the previous response indicated you will need a SNLB and WLE as a first procedure. Hopefully the SNLB will come back negative and then you will be done with your treatment.

It is great that the board will review your case, but do not to let too much time pass before you get your SNLB/WLE. Early intervention is the best prevention of a more serious spreading of melanoma. You will find that you need to be your own best advocate for your care. Ask questions, and don’t be afraid to challenge your caregivers judgments, decisions, and recommendations. Always push them to get the fastest and best treatment possible.

By the way… I love the reference to Mr. Bill. It is very important to keep a positive attitude!

My case was in 2010, and I have been NED ever since my SNLB/WLE. You are going to be fine, but you’re in for a bit of a roller coaster ride. Buckle your seatbelt and get started on your road to recovery, and a healthy, long life.

Best of luck,
Mark

Hi There,

I am a 9 year survivor of Stage 2A malignant melanoma. Mine was called Acral Lentiginous, and appeared on the heel of my foot. My lesion was 3.8 mm deep, but fortunately had no ulceration. The biopsy also indicated no sign of lymph or vascular involvement. However, due to the depth, I had to have a Wide Local Excision (WLE), with 2 cm margin and a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy…which came back negative. Given the large WLE, I needed to have my heel reconstructed with a vascularized skin graft from my thigh, which required a couple of surgeries to complete.

Best of luck for a long NED life!
Mark

Hey,

Congratulations on the awesome news! Now…go out and live your life to the fullest!!

Best wishes for a long & healthy life,
Mark