Patients with Stage I melanoma should receive a physical examination, including a skin examination, every 6-12 months for the two years following surgery and at least annually for years 3, 4, and 5. The frequency of examinations after two years depends on the perceived level of risk for the recurrence of the previous tumor and increasingly, for new primary melanomas.

Prognosis

With appropriate surgery, Stage I melanoma is considered low-risk for local recurrence or for regional and distant metastasis. Large-scale studies indicate that the probability of disease-free survival five years after treatment exceeds 90 to 95%.¹

See also If Melanoma Recurs.