Nodular Melanoma and Deciding to Have a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Ella's Story
For Ella, Australia has become much more than the place she lives. It has become home.
Originally from Finland, Ella moved to Australia eight years ago. Now 27, she is married to her Peruvian husband and works as a marketing coordinator, building a life she loves.
Like many young people, melanoma was not something Ella ever expected to become part of her story.
Although she knew Finnish people often have fair skin, Ella had never imagined that an ordinary routine skin check could bring such life-changing news.
A Nodular Melanoma Diagnosis
In October 2025, Ella booked in for what she thought would be a regular skin check.
Instead, that appointment led to news no one is ever ready to hear. Ella was diagnosed with nodular melanoma on her right thigh. The melanoma had a Breslow thickness of 1.4mm and was Clark level IV.
The diagnosis felt frightening, not only because of the word cancer, but because melanoma was unfamiliar territory for Ella and her loved ones.
The next step was an appointment with a specialist, where Ella could begin to understand what the diagnosis meant and what the recommended treatment pathway would involve.
“We did not know much about melanoma,” Ella says. “It sounded scary, and because we did not have much knowledge about it, that made it even scarier.”
In November 2025, Ella underwent a wide local excision, a surgical procedure to remove the primary melanoma site on her right thigh.
Deciding to Have a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
At the same time as her wide local excision, one sentinel lymph node was removed from Ella’s right groin for biopsy. A sentinel lymph node biopsy can help doctors understand whether melanoma cells have spread.
For Ella, deciding to have the sentinel lymph node biopsy was about seeking clarity at a time when so much felt uncertain. She wanted to better understand whether the cancer had spread and help guide her treatment.
She felt it was the right step to get the information needed to make informed decisions about her care. She also understood the procedure was less invasive than removing multiple lymph nodes, while still providing valuable staging information.
Looking back, Ella is glad she chose to have the procedure, as it gave her greater clarity and confidence in her treatment plan. Recovery brought its own challenges. After long-haul flights, she developed swelling at the sentinel lymph node biopsy site, which resulted in a seroma. A follow-up PET and CT scan was scheduled six months later to monitor her progress.
Finding Support through Melanoma Patients Australia
As Ella tried to make sense of her diagnosis and what it meant for her future, she reached out to Melanoma Patients Australia for support.
She spoke with a Melanoma Patients Australia nurse, who offered compassionate support and helped answer her questions about the diagnosis.
Through MPA, Ella gained a better understanding of melanoma, treatment options, potential side effects and what to expect throughout the treatment journey.
The information was clear and easy to understand, helping Ella feel more prepared and confident when discussing her care with her medical team. For Ella, the support service became a valuable and reliable source of information, reducing uncertainty and improving her understanding of melanoma and its treatment.
Early Detection, Support and Scanxiety
Today, Ella feels deeply grateful that her melanoma was caught early and that no spread has been found.
That gratitude sits alongside a strong desire to help protect the people she loves by encouraging them to prioritise skin checks too.
“I urge others to do their skin checks as well, including my family and friends,” Ella says. “It is important to know that it can happen to anyone.”
Like many people who have experienced melanoma, Ella understands how difficult the waiting can be, especially before scans or while waiting for results. In those moments, she tries to steady herself by thinking about the people she loves most.
For Ella, support, information and early detection have all played an important role in helping her move forward with greater confidence.
Ella shared her story in June 2026. Melanoma Patients Australia thanks Ella for generously sharing her melanoma experience. We acknowledge the challenges faced by all Australians affected by melanoma and the strength shown by patients, carers and families every day.
If this story has raised questions or you are seeking support, contact the National Melanoma Support Line on 1300 884 450.
