"My journey through melanoma treatment"

During lockdown April 2021 I noticed a freckle which I took a photo of and thought I must keep an eye on that!  However nobody wanted to go to Dr at that time. In my total ignorance I wasn’t too worried as I believed skin cancer could just be removed from where it was, I had no knowledge of how melanoma could spread through the lymphatic and blood system. Perhaps that should be publicised more.

A year later when I rang my doctor with a photo,  she saw me two days later and within less than a week I was at dermatology in Barnstaple for a first appointment, then within a week the nurse was removing it plus surrounding area and sending it off for biopsy. Wow amazing speed of treatment.

It’s the waiting that seems worse in any cancer investigation, but I was also lucky to have the result sooner than the maximum time predicted. Worryingly it was found to be a stage 2a melanoma, 3.3 ml deep. The cancer nurse who gave me the news was at all times compassionate and professional, answering my questions. At a time when it was not allowed to bring a family member to a consultation, my husband was permitted to be there, which made me realise just how serious it was.

I can understand that nobody knows how their cancer journey may end, and many people would like to leave it that way. My nurse gave me information booklets and websites to gain information. I would always prefer to be told what the next steps are. Especially as the nurses are always there to support and I never felt left alone. Thank you.

Then followed the trip to Exeter to see a consultant and the predicted delays because of covid. Not that we could really have afforded nor had any idea of the cost we had contemplated going private just to ‘jump the queue’ but were told it would be no quicker, with the consultant working all hours and out of hours on private patients. So we kept our faith with the NHS. Thankful that we did. I received an appt within four weeks to have a wider local excision a skin graft and lymph node removal.

During several visits to Exeter, I received dressing care , the wound looking worse than I had imagined. Then came the next long wait to thankfully hear that the cancer had all been removed and none found in lymph nodes.

Again I thought the wait was terrible and after the minimum time I rang Exeter for results. I do believe that had I not rung I may have had to wait till my consultant was back from holiday but as I was found to be all clear I was able to go to Exeter to be given the good news from a locum.

I can understand how some people prefer not to tell their immediate family as they are the ones who can do nothing but worry and ask you how you are and make you feel like you are reliving each stage.

The positives were the compassion and professionalism of Barnstaple dermatology, the nurse who did the initial surgery, and the cancer specialists, both Nurses and Doctor. They now follow up with a full body check every three months, you forget how embarrassed you feel but being a woman who has had children that goes with the territory!

During Covid and lockdown, I had several short waits between procedures and waiting for results, I feel very lucky, considering the waits for surgery and appointments that others have had to endure.

A big negative is the travelling from north Devon to Exeter for so many visits, accentuating just how remote Barnstaple hospital is. I believe it is the most remote hospital in UK.

I had to leave home on the day of my surgery at 6.30 am to check in for 8am. I was told I would have surgery at 11am. At 3pm I was still waiting, nobody had given me any information about updated times. My elderly, diabetic husband was walking the streets of Exeter rather than drive home to return later. Eventually I was discharged at 7.30 pm. It would be good to think that day surgery could prioritise those who have to travel furthest and how they get there, but I can’t really complain when I hear of those who get ready for surgery only to be bumped.

My GP had told me how much they would cut around the original freckle yet I was shocked when I first saw it after the WLE.  It wasn’t painful, it was deep and wide. When the final nurse at Exeter doing the redressing told me to peel off any scabs I think that was wrong as those areas have left deeper scars than other parts. I also am amazed to see how much smaller the wound went from the size of half an apple when I first saw it to that of a £2 coin. The skin graft was probably the most painful, like a carpet burn, which bled quite a lot, but it healed quick enough. The scar from the lymph node removal pulled as it was glued with internal stitches. All scars eventually healed well but I think the staff at Exeter could have explained more what to expect.

I think the nurses at Barnstaple are amazing and patiently inspect every little freckle I find. They have answered any of my questions over the phone inviting me in to see them with anything I want checked. I can’t fault the care I have been given, especially when you hear on the news of patients with other needs, especially gynaecology, are still waiting. 

Manager

Doctor