Your follow-up care depends on the stage of the melanoma. Follow-up appointments allow your doctor to monitor for possible recurrence of the melanoma. If you have a higher than average risk of developing another melanoma (for example because there is a history of melanoma in your family or because you have many moles), you may be offered extra check‑ups.

Stage	Follow-up 57
Stage 0	You will be discharged after your treatment is finished
Stage 1A	You may be offered between 2 and 4 check‑ups during the first year after you finish treatment You may be discharged at the end of that year
Stage 1B, 2 or 3	You may be offered follow‑up care for 5 years after you finish treatment You would have check‑ups every 3 months for the first 3 years, then every 6 months for the next 2 years If you've had stage 2C or stage 3 melanoma you may also be offered CT or MRI scans at regular intervals for a set period of time (known as surveillance imaging)
Stage 4	You should be offered a personalised plan for your follow‑up care

 

If the melanoma has been removed (stage 1, 2 or 3), you will see your skin cancer specialist again for follow-up appointments. During these appointments, your doctor or specialist nurse will ask about your general health and examine you to check whether:55

• there are any signs of the melanoma coming back
• the melanoma has spread to your lymph nodes or other areas of your body
• there are signs of any new primary melanomas

Depending on where your melanoma was removed, they will also check the nearby lymph nodes. If your melanoma was in the:51

• Leg: the lymph nodes behind your knees and in your groin will be checked
• Chest, back or abdomen: the lymph nodes in your groin, armpits, above the collar bones and in the neck will be checked
• Arm: the lymph nodes around the elbow, above your collar bones and in the lower neck will be checked
• Head or neck area: the lymph nodes in the side of your neck, under the chin, above the collar bones, behind your ears and at the back of your neck will be checked

At each appointment, your specialist nurse or doctor should remind you:57

• how to check your skin for melanoma
• how to avoid risk factors for poor health, such as skin damage from the sun and smoking
• how to make sure you get enough vitamin D without risking sun damage

How often and for how long you’ll have follow-up appointments will depend on the stage of your melanoma. Your specialist will discuss this with you.

You may want to ask your doctor these questions:

• Where will I have my check-ups?
• How often should I check my skin for melanoma? What signs should I look for?
• What should I do if I get signs of melanoma between check-ups?
• How likely is it that I’ll get melanoma again?
• What can I do to avoid getting melanoma again?
• Do I need to take vitamin D supplements?
• Do I need to avoid the sun completely from now on?
• Who should I contact if I have any questions or concerns?

Click HERE for a full list of REFERENCES numbers listed throughout the site (nos.1-58)