“How common is it for skin cancer to come back?”
My mom had melanoma and, thank goodness, she caught it early. She is doing fine now and gets checkups every 6 months (she was declared cancer free 2 years ago). Is there ever a time where she will be "in the clear"?
1 Answer
Melanoma is a skin cancer which arises in melanocytes which are present in the skin. Sun exposure is a predisposing factor. When a melanoma or a mole is discovered it is important that it be surgically removed. At times some lymph node biopsies are recommended. Excellent guidelines are available in the guidelines published and annually updated by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN.org). The chance of a recurrence depends on the depth of the original lesion and whether or not lymph nodes were involved. One major issue is whether a new lesion is a recurrence or the appearance of a new melanoma. It is important to be examined routinely by a dermatologist.
