Treatment
After treatment for melanoma skin cancer, you have regular follow up appointments. You might also have tests including , and scans.
How often you have follow up appointments and for how long, depends on a number of factors including the of the melanoma.
You have follow up appointments so your doctor can:
check the melanoma hasn’t come back or spread
treat any symptoms or side effects you may have
explain how to reduce your risk of getting another melanoma
answer any questions you have
How often you have follow up appointments and for how long, depends on:
the stage of the melanoma
if you had surgery to remove the melanoma or not
if you have any other factors that increase the risk of the cancer coming back
Normally, if there are no signs that the cancer has come back, you will have fewer appointments each year. If the cancer does come back (recurrent cancer) your doctor will talk to you about further treatment.
Guidelines for the timing of follow up appointments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are different to those in Scotland.
Sometimes your doctor might want to see you more often than the guidelines suggest. This might be because:
you have a higher risk of the melanoma coming back
you have a higher than normal risk of getting another melanoma
you’re pregnant
your doctor recommended you have a but you weren’t able to have it done
Your doctor can tell you how often your appointments are going to be. And if there are any other tests or scans they recommend you have.
Where you go for your follow up appointment depends on if you have:
recently had surgery to remove the melanoma
had chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted cancer drugs or immunotherapy
After surgery you might have follow up appointments at the surgical outpatients. And you normally go to the cancer (oncology) clinic if you've had other treatment.
Your surgeon and the might share your follow up. This means sometimes you might see the surgeon and other times you might see the oncologist.
At each appointment your doctor will examine you. And they will ask you about your general health and if anything is worrying you.
Your doctor or nurse will show you how to check your skin for new melanomas. And talk to you about:
staying safe in the sun
getting enough vitamin D
getting help to stop smoking if you smoke
If you need any CT, MRI or ultrasound scans you normally have separate appointments for them.
Find out more about these tests from our A to Z list
Many people get anxious about their follow up appointments and scans. Talking about how you’re feeling might help. Some people can talk to their family or friends. But others find it more helpful to have counselling after cancer treatment. Talk to your doctor or nurse to help set this up.
Last reviewed: 19 May 2025
Next review due: 19 May 2028
The stage of a melanoma skin cancer tells you how deeply it has grown down into the skin. It also tells you if it has spread elsewhere in your body and how far.
Treatments include surgery, cancer drugs and sometimes radiotherapy. Which ones you have depends on the melanoma stage, where on your body it is and your general health.
Find out about tests to diagnose cancer and monitor it during and after treatment, including what each test can show, how you have it and how to prepare.
Advanced cancer has spread to another part of the body. The symptoms and treatment depend on where it has spread to. It may help to find out what support is available if you have advanced cancer.
Getting practical and emotional support can help you and your family cope with a diagnosis of cancer. It can also help you with life during treatment and after cancer.
Melanoma develops in cells called melanocytes. You have these in your skin and other parts of your body. Melanoma that starts in the skin is called melanoma skin cancer.
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