Follow-up

Check-ups

Once your treatment ends you will need regular check-ups. These will be every few months at first but will become less frequent.

Although most people with thin melanomas are cured by simply having the mole removed, a few people later develop another melanoma. It is important, therefore, to have regular check-ups and to know what to look for.

It is possible for the melanoma to come back in the same area, so if you notice any change or lumps in the area on the scar or nearby it is essential to see your doctor. If you notice any new symptoms or are worried in between appointments you can always contact your specialist nurse at the hospital. You can also arrange to have an earlier appointment by contacting your doctor’s secretary.

At your regular check-ups your doctor will check the lymph nodes close to the area where the melanoma was removed.

• For melanomas in the head or neck area, the doctor will check the lymph nodes in the sides of the neck, under the chin, above the collar bones, behind the ears and at the back of the neck.
• If the melanoma occurred in the chest, back or abdomen, the lymph nodes in the groins, armpits, above the collar bones and in the neck will be checked.
• A melanoma that occurred in the arm may spread to the lymph nodes in the armpit on the affected side, above the collar bones and in the lower neck.
• If the melanoma occurred in the leg the doctor will check the lymph nodes behind the knees and in the groins.

If it is thought that the malignant melanoma has spread into the lymph nodes, the lymph nodes will usually be removed. This is to try to remove all of the melanoma cells and prevent them from spreading to other parts of the body.

For people whose treatment is over apart from these check-ups, CancerBACUP’s section on adjusting to life after cancer gives advice on how to keep healthy and adjust to life after treatment.

Pregnancy

It is recommended that women with melanomas thicker than 2mm avoid becoming pregnant for two years after the diagnosis. This is because this is the most likely time for the melanoma to come back. Becoming pregnant does not make the melanoma more likely to come back.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Research has shown that in women who have had melanoma, taking HRT does not increase the risk of the melanoma coming back.

Skin care in the sun

After any treatment for malignant melanoma, it is very important to avoid strong sunlight. This reduces the chance of developing a second melanoma. There are a number of things you can do to protect your skin:

• Wear clothing made of cotton or natural fibres which have a close weave and give more protection against the sun.
• Protect your face and neck with a wide-brimmed hat.
• Always wear sunglasses in strong sunlight.
• Use a high-factor sunscreen (SPF 30 or above), whenever you are exposed to the sun. Follow the instructions on the bottle and re-apply it as recommended, especially after swimming.
• Never allow your skin to burn.
• Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day – usually between 11am and 3pm.
• Use fake tanning lotions or sprays, rather than sitting in the sun or using a sun bed.