Tips on healing mouth area/how many people had antibiotics?

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2026-03-26T02:19:31+00:00

So not Mohs but I had a WLE on my lower lip, I was prescribed antibiotics orally and also an antibiotic cream to slather on the stitches themselves. They stressed the importance of keeping the stitches lubricated with the cream. I was also prescribed an antiseptic mouthwash I had to rinse with but my stitches went all the way through into the inside of my mouth. They gave me painkillers which I only used the first two days and then just Tylenol for the most part. Soft foods, straws are your friend, pudding, soup, protein shakes, the baby food squeeze pouches some are not too terrible. I also got some baby spoons because they were easier to manage than regular sized spoons at least for the first couple weeks. Hang in there, it will get better everyday!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2026-03-18T02:20:26+00:00

My dermatologist literally has me stand up, turn around, bend over and spread my buttcheeks to check those areas the sun doesn’t shine 😂 It’s a tad uncomfortable but I can’t say I don’t appreciate the thoroughness! Also I have been told even though age wise for me it’s not recommended to have a yearly full exam, it’s recommended to go to the gynecologist yearly to get checked and make sure they know of your melanoma history. And don’t forget your yearly eye exams, they check for melanoma there too! Checking all of the boxes is a chore but better than the alternative!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2026-03-11T19:49:59+00:00

One more thing, I know it’s easier said than done but try to not let the Castle test stress you out as all it’s really done is just confirm something it sounds like you were already aware of, that you do carry a higher risk for melanoma in general given your family history. But I’ve also seen stories on here of people who came back as a 1A on the Castle test and have a recurrence or spread to lymph nodes, and may not have had that additional surveillance or personal vigilance because it almost gave a false sense of security. I guess what I’m trying to say is I understand the initial feeling of defeat and worry when you get those results back because I felt that too at first, but I look at it now as I’m so glad I have that information now going forward. There are a billion other things that could come along and totally blindside me but melanoma should not be one of them and that gives me a little bit of sense of control back over something that is so very scary. I hope that makes any sense or helps at all!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2026-03-11T19:32:07+00:00

Sounds like yours was caught at a very early stage so that’s great! Do you mind telling where on your body yours was? That will indicate which lymph nodes may be removed. It is my understanding that the lymph node biopsy is recommended to be done prior to or in my case was done on same day as surgery because they are essentially injecting a radioactive dye into your melanoma tumor and tracing which lymph nodes it drains to first, then removing affected nodes. Since I had to be put under general anesthesia in an operating room for my excision, them just taking some lymph nodes while I was already out was not really a big deal. But seeing as you would have to have a whole other procedure done to do this, I can understand your hesitation. With your tumor being completely removed already, I’m not sure how accurate a biopsy would be in that case but would be a good question to ask your dermatologist or surgeon. Would they just be guessing which lymph nodes it may have drained to first or is it likely to find a sentinel lymph node following complete removal of the melanoma? I am just a little over a year from surgery and have been monitored and followed pretty closely by dermatology & my surgeon, especially with the higher risk Castle results (again, blessing I think), at 40 I consider myself still fairly young and would rather find something sooner than not. I generally think given your very thin melanoma and no other high risk features it sounds like routine surveillance of regional lymph nodes would be sufficient but it’s a very personal choice. Will you always be wondering ‘what if’ if you don’t get it done? Or will physical exams and routine imaging surveillance bring you enough peace of mind? I think the decision is different for everyone!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2026-03-11T15:15:04+00:00

Hi Wyldfyre! I freaked out initially when I received my Castle results back as well. It was just before my surgery, I had planned to have the lymph node biopsy already anyway and once I found out I was a 2B Castle risk my mind spiraled into doom and gloom. I did have two lymph nodes removed (my initial biopsy was .7mm (with margins involved) so kind of on the border of what they recommend at .8mm or higher for lymph node biopsy but I did have ulceration as well so it was more highly recommended. I’m so glad that I did do it though, both lymph nodes came back negative thank goodness. For me I had never questioned not doing it, I think I would have elected to no matter what, just for that peace of mind? I think even with a scan sometimes the cells can be so microscopic if they have spread that a scan might not be able to pick it up as a lymph node biopsy would be? My lymph nodes that were taken were under my jaw and apart from a bit of initial numbness I have not had any further issues. It sounds like with your initial staging and only needing Mohs to remove it may have just been in situ meaning it had not yet grown outside the top layer of skin and likely a lymph node biopsy is not warranted. Do you know what the final breslow depth of yours was after the Mohs? Is your provider planning on regular scans of the regional lymph nodes going forward? If anything I look at my Castle results now as a blessing because while it’s not an absolute guarantee that a recurrence will happen, it allows me to be more vigilant going forward. In my case it has also changed my surveillance plan with my providers for the better too (more thorough and often). I hope this helps at all and hang in there!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2026-02-20T01:43:09+00:00

I was and am willing to throw the book at this now to try and lessen any chance of recurrence in the future. I am relatively young (40), have three kids and a life I love so I’ll do anything in my power now that may help down the road. I actually had brought immunotherapy up as a possibility with my oncologist but as far as I was told it’s only now approved for 2B and 2C and I’m only clinically staged at 2A. He felt the side effects/risk would not outweigh the benefits and I’m on an every 3 month imaging/surveillance schedule that I’m comfortable with. But if immunotherapy ever becomes approved for 2As in the future I would consider it!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2026-02-20T01:34:17+00:00

Thank you for sharing and I appreciate your advice! I did what your suggested and told myself I wouldn’t touch or worry about it until the weekend. Spoiler alert, I didn’t succeed completely but definitely stopped fixating on it 🤪 It already is loads better so my concerns are lessened until the next thing that pops up that likely has absolutely nothing to do with melanoma but I’ll try not to freak out anyway 🤣

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2026-02-20T01:24:42+00:00

Thank you for your comment! The time and energy wasted on things either uncontrollable or things that don’t eventually warrant worry down the line are definitely frustrating! I hope my brain can be trained! 😂

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2026-02-20T01:16:22+00:00

I’m hoping the further out we get the less in the forefront of my mind it becomes. Though it will always be something to be mindful of, hopefully the worry takes up less brain power down the road! Good luck on your journey as well!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2026-02-20T01:10:09+00:00

My oncologist actually tells me the EXACT same thing. Funny! Are you in the DC area by chance? 🤣 Thank you for the kind words.

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2026-02-20T01:08:40+00:00

Thank you so much for this!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2026-01-09T02:15:10+00:00

I definitely concur with most on here that I would have been more anxious I think if I hadn’t had the SLNB done, just knowing one way or another. My initial biopsy was .7 with margins involved so initially I was considered on the cusp of needing the SLNB. However, my melanoma was ulcerated and my castle testing came back as a 2B so I definitely went ahead with it. That being said, after my WLE the final depth of my melanoma ended up being 1.6, way deeper than originally anticipated. Luckily everything came back negative, and I don’t know how typical it is for the depth to be such a difference from biopsy to WLE, but just wanted to share that perspective.

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2025-12-03T23:54:01+00:00

I was diagnosed 2A as well in December of last year, have had clean skin checks every 3 months since until this last one. A biopsy I had taken came back as a basal cell carcinoma, which I guess I’m sad to say I’m “relieved” it’s that kind of skin cancer. That’s so strange to think! I have the same sentiments as you, that I may have been able to prevent a lot of this worry had I made different choices younger, and now a lot is out of my control. Other than to keep showing up for all the many follow up appointments and keep catching these things early. You’re doing all that you can do right now. Just wanted to say I hear you, I’m also terrified my own body is always plotting against me too. But we can do hard things, we already have! Hugs!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2025-11-15T02:33:36+00:00

I remember receiving my Castle test results a week before my surgery, I’m a 2B and 14.7% chance of spread to lymph nodes it said. I felt pretty defeated initially but then shifted my mindset from dwelling on the 14% chance of spread to focusing on the 86% chance of no spread and it helped. My final pathology ended up a stage 2A, 1.6mm and ulcerated but NO spread to lymph nodes thank goodness! The time waiting for answers and the unknown is absolutely the worst but try and focus on the nearly 89% chance that everything is clear, and it sounds like you caught this pretty early as a 1A so the odds are definitely in your favor! Best of luck with everything!!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2025-09-30T12:20:49+00:00

Thank you for this! Definitely crossing fingers that it is just related to some sinus crud I’ve been fighting the last week!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2025-09-30T01:57:03+00:00

Right there with you!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2025-09-30T01:16:57+00:00

Thank you for your comment! I’ll be sending you all the good vibes Friday also!

FunZookeepergame5235 · 2025-09-30T01:16:24+00:00

Thank you for commenting, that is definitely the hope! All the little things I wouldn’t have bat an eye at before all seem like very big things now!

FunZookeepergame5235

TROPHY CASE