After the melanoma has been removed your skin cancer specialist will want to see you again. You may only be asked to come back for a couple of visits until your scar has settled down, or you may have regular check-ups every few months for a period of time. This varies with different hospitals and will depend on the advice given by your skin cancer specialist. If you had a melanoma in situ you will usually only be seen once after it’s been removed.

Although it’s very unlikely that your original melanoma will come back, you are at more risk of developing another primary melanoma (second primary). Because of this you will be shown how to examine your skin and what to look for. You’ll also be given advice on protecting yourself from the sun.

Your doctor or specialist nurse will examine your scar and the surrounding area. They will also check the lymph nodes close to the area where the melanoma was removed.

If your melanoma was in the:

• 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 in the armpit on the affected side, above your collar bones, and in the lower neck will be checked.
• Head or neck area - The lymph nodes in the sides of your neck, under the chin, above the collar bones, behind your ears and at the back of your neck will be checked.

Some people may have photographs taken of their skin and some of their moles measured. This is just a way of comparing and keeping a check on any changes that may develop.

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

Your specialist nurse or doctor will give you advice about what to look for and how to examine yourself. It’s important to do this at least once a month because of the risk of getting another primary melanoma and of the small risk of your melanoma coming back. The earlier anything like this is picked up the more chance there is of curing it.

You’ll be asked to check (by looking and feeling):

• your scar and the surrounding area
• the lymph nodes nearby
• your skin, from head to toe, for any new or changing moles (using the ABCDE guide).

After a while checking your skin will get easier; you’ll become more familiar with your skin and what your moles normally look like. A good time to do this is after a bath or shower. Make sure that you have plenty of light. Use a full length mirror and a small hand held mirror for areas that are hard to reach. You can ask a partner, relative or friend to look at your back and parts of your skin that are hard to see.