What is the follow-up care for stage 1 melanoma? Outlook with stage 1 melanoma is usually very good! You are at low risk for the cancer returning or spreading to other parts of your body. After treatment, doctors recommend you:
Learn about stage 1 melanoma (1A and 1B)
What is stage 1 melanoma? In stage 1, cancer has grown below the epidermis into the dermis , but has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant sites. This means that with treatment, your melanoma is not likely to come back.
• Do monthly self skin checks • See a dermatologist once a year
• Use sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher and broad spectrum – apply it 15 minutes before going outside, and reapply every 2 hours and after sweating or swimming • Wear clothes to protect your skin – wear long sleeved shirts, pants, wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses • Seek shade when the sun is strongest, between 10am and 4pm
Stage 1 is divided into 2 subgroups:
Subgroup 1A: The tumor is 1mm (millimeter) thick or less, with or without ulceration (broken skin)
Subgroup 1B: The tumor is either: • Less than 1mm thick and ulcerated , OR • 1 - 2mm thick and not ulcerated
Questions to ask your doctor • Do you have a lot of experience diagnosing melanoma? • What type of follow-up care will I need? • What are the chances of my melanoma coming back? • How can I prevent melanoma from coming back? • What should I do if the melanoma comes back? • What other doctors should also be involved in my care?
How is stage 1 melanoma treated? Doctors treat stage 1 melanoma with surgery to remove the cancer. Usually this is a procedure called a wide local excision . This is when a larger oval-shaped piece of tissue is removed from the skin to remove any cancer cells left after the biopsy.
Stage 1 melanoma is highly curable – as long as the doctors are sure they removed enough surrounding
skin, this is all the treatment you will typically need.
8 | Melanoma Patient Guide Stages 0-1
melanoma.org | 9
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator