Melanoma wider excision

[fantasy]

After removal and 6 internal and external, I have melanoma.i am going for a 1cm margin further excision just to be safe.
As it's on my back /side kidney area I will be off work . My work involves health care and bending stretching etc.
Has anyone had this procedure and how long before back to normal? First procedure stitches were in for 2 weeks.

[Button17]

I had MM removed from my R arm several years ago. I also work in health care. I managed to burst my sutures so ended up being off work for 3 weeks and the non patient contact for a further 3 weeks to avoid infection.

Just take it easy, fon't rush back to work as may end up being off longer.

All the best wishes to you and speedy recovery xx

[Trouble3]

I had one removed from the same area on my back quite a few years ago. I also agree that you really need to take it easy whilst it's healing, but also after the stitches are taken out; my lovely 'thin line' scar split open the afternoon after I'd had the stitches out, just reaching for something in Asda... what a mess, blood all over the place and a swift visit to A&E, where they had to try to re-close the 'healed' wound. I now have a 2 inch scar that's almost a cm wide.

Good luck.

[paw]

DH'scar, just below the kidney, is a good 4 inches long and 1/4 inch plus wide - it varies. He had the stitches out after about two weeks but had to go for dressing changes every few days as it wasn't healing properly. I can't remember how long he was off work, probably only a couple of days, but they suggested he didn't drive for a while - he did have to manoeuvre the car out of its parking place at the hospital as I couldn't get the angle!

[fantasy]

My DH and I are going to Spain 3 weeks and 2 days after procedure so hoping it will have healed

[ERICSMUM]

Originally Posted by fantasy

My DH and I are going to Spain 3 weeks and 2 days after procedure so hoping it will have healed

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Sorry if this sounds silly but have you told your travel insurance company ?

Hope the op goes ok. Xx

[fantasy]

Yes I am going to on Monday and get covered👌

[sharlu]

Good luck, I hope things go well for you. Are you having a skin graft? If not it might heal relatively quickly if there are no complications.

I had a malignant melanoma wide excision to the back of my calf in February this year. Also had a split skin graft because a further 2cm diameter was taken around original tumour. It's took a while to heal because of infection.

It was good news for me - they don't think the cancer had spread further but I need to be vigilant over the next few years.

Take care x

[fantasy]

Dermatologist doesn't think a graft will be needed but he wasn't happy doing it himself and therefore plastic surgeon is doing it. He said the plastic surgeon can do better stitches with stronger effect.

[sharlu]

Originally Posted by fantasy

Dermatologist doesn't think a graft will be needed but he wasn't happy doing it himself and therefore plastic surgeon is doing it. He said the plastic surgeon can do better stitches with stronger effect.

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Max fax did mine too. Ive got quite a dent in my calf. It sounds like they caught yours earlier and are planning to pull the surrounding skin together with stitches so hopefully just a neat scar. Thinking of you.
Hope all goes well with the surgery and your results x