Melanoma - anyone got experience of this please

[elsiepiddock]

My mil had a mole removed from her wrist a few weeks ago. It was a black one which was irregular and had spread - text book stuff really.

She has just been told that it was a melanoma. They were able to remove it entirely but she has got to go back for more tests (not on the mole site). I presume these will be blood tests and x-rays?

The doc said she will be 'kept an eye on' for 5 years.

Is this the norm for a melanoma? The treatment seems a bit nothingy and vague?

If they have removed it completely, then some tests (most likely to be a CT scan ) and followup is all that is needed.

Thanks

My friend has had a similar experience. Melanoma doesn't respond at all to chemo, so the only thing they will do is cut it out and check to make sure it hasn't spread. If it hasn't, they just keep doing regular checks.

My friend has had a similar experience. Melanoma doesn't respond at all to chemo, so the only thing they will do is cut it out and check to make sure it hasn't spread. If it hasn't, they just keep doing regular checks.

oops

Thanks.

Don't know whether to be worried or relieved!

I presume that as they got it all out from beneath and around dodgy mole, her chances of it not having spread are good?

Yes, if it's caught early it has a good chance of being all out.

Skin cancer is very scarey.

She is so not a sun worshipper. But she's always either gardening or playing golf - so exposed all the time.

Cancerbackup is a very good site www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Melanoma.