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OT Doctors: Recovery for inguinal lymph node removal for melanoma?

Posted on 1/30/20 at 10:32 am
Posted by StringedInstruments
Member since Oct 2013
20751 posts
Posted on 1/30/20 at 10:32 am
My brother-in-law was recently diagnosed with melanoma on his leg. He scheduled to have the cancer removed along with a dye test performed to see if the cancer has spread. He claims the doctor told him one lymph node will be removed - assuming for biopsy? I’ve read about inguinal dissection for malignant melanoma and it seems like he could have a lot more than one removed but he said it will be one.

He is a hippy vagabond who lives in an RV. He has a cheap gym membership for access to a shower and uses public toilets. He is refusing to get a temporary apartment or rent a hotel room. He’s also saying he doesn’t want help and feels he will be fine.

He’s out of his mind, right? My wife is losing her shite about this and is planning on flying out next week to be there when he inevitably needs help. No one else in the family can really go (illness and other issues).

I’m worried that his recovery and need for care is going to be a lot longer than the two-three days she can be there.

What’s he really looking at for this kind of procedure?
Posted by StringedInstruments
Member since Oct 2013
20751 posts
Posted on 1/30/20 at 11:33 am to
Bump for the doctors on lunch.
Posted by PJinAtl
Atlanta
Member since Nov 2007
14246 posts
Posted on 1/30/20 at 12:14 pm to
Not a doctor but my mom had a melanoma removed from her arm about 8 years ago.

They first did a radioactive dye test to see which lymph node cluster that area of the arm was connected to. I think that it was the one under the armpit of that arm.

They went in and took a couple of lymph nodes to biopsy and also removed the melanoma. All procedures were done within the day and she came home that afternoon.

I want to say she was feeling ok after two or three days. The biggest thing was she had to be careful with using that arm for a week or two.
Posted by Coach72
Lafayette
Member since Dec 2009
1730 posts
Posted on 1/30/20 at 12:22 pm to
I had the exact thing about four years ago.

My memory is slightly fuzzy because there's been a lot of stuff go down since then, but it's definitely longer than three days. I took a week off from work, and was then able to return thanks to a very accommodating and understanding principal.

One of the biggest inconveniences for me was that they run a tube from your groin that comes out of the upper thigh and drains into a plastic bulb that you have to empty multiple times a day. It's actually quite discrete an can be rigged underneath clothing and kept in your pocket though.

There will also be follow up scans after a few months and possibly immunotherapy treatment (Keytruda, Yervoy).

Prayers!
Posted by White Roach
Member since Apr 2009
9666 posts
Posted on 1/30/20 at 12:23 pm to
Not a doctor, but I am eating lunch.

I don't know if the surgery is in-patient or out-patient, but I've had a series of out-patient procedures (4, to be exact) over the past few months and they were pretty militant about having a ride home. But aside from that, it's all been pretty easy. After tomorrow's treatment, I'll be halfway done with my radiation. Hopefully that's the end of this cancer shite for me.

Edited to add that I have prostate cancer, not melanoma, so it might be an apples and oranges kind of thing. But my point is that he may be able to go through treatment without much help.
This post was edited on 1/30/20 at 12:28 pm
Posted by tigerskin
Member since Nov 2004
45594 posts
Posted on 1/30/20 at 12:27 pm to
Here is info about the procedure

LINK
Posted by Doby
Lafayette
Member since Sep 2014
2138 posts
Posted on 1/30/20 at 12:51 pm to
The operation could be risky as most oncology cases at that level could be somewhat exploratory in addition to taking enough margins. Additionally, inguinal lymph nodes are anatomically positioned within different tissue and vascularity, some of which are vital.
Posted by MBclass83
Member since Oct 2010
10193 posts
Posted on 1/30/20 at 12:59 pm to
I had a few removed when I had melanoma surgery. Was groggy for a day but fine after that.
Posted by StringedInstruments
Member since Oct 2013
20751 posts
Posted on 1/30/20 at 1:08 pm to
Would y’all say that he will need care from someone?

I think my wife is mostly concerned about the fact that he doesn’t have running water and uses public restrooms and a gym shower. That’s on him and if he’ll be able to get in and out of those places on his own, then it’s his problem for refusing to go to a nicer place.
Posted by TheEmporer
North Alabama
Member since Sep 2015
7 posts
Posted on 1/30/20 at 1:39 pm to
Recovery for this is generally mild (2-3 days of hanging in his rv). It should be performed as an outpatient procedure with a few stitches at the site. Maybe some light sedation depending on if he’s having wider margins excised from the original melanoma.
Posted by TheEmporer
North Alabama
Member since Sep 2015
7 posts
Posted on 1/30/20 at 1:47 pm to
In all actuality he probably doesn’t “need” a caretaker for this. That said, I would personally want someone to be there to help me. Guess it kind of depends on their dynamic. Sorry. Guess that’s kind of a non answer.
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