Hello, I have some questions about melanoma. Last year I had a birthmark removed from my hand - it turned out to be early stage melanoma. I do not know how to protect my skin now - is it better to wear a long sleeve or can I wear short sleeves and use sunscreen? Is it good that I use 50 sunscreen creams? Should I do any checkups (apart from oncology visits, where the doctor only looks at the "wound" and examines the condition of the armpits very quickly)? I will be grateful for your response. Regards, Małgorzata
After the melanoma removal procedure, the patient should be under constant medical supervision. It is necessary to perform physical examination of the skin (including dermoscopy) and lymph nodes during follow-up visits. You should also perform periodically:
- blood tests
- Chest X-ray
- ultrasound of the abdominal cavity
- lymph nodes
You should protect your skin from the sun with a sunscreen 50, remembering to apply additional layers (if you are outside) every 2-3 hours.
- Melanoma: causes, symptoms, treatment
- You don't play with the sun - the story of a patient suffering from melanoma
Remember that our expert's answer is informative and will not replace a visit to the doctor.
Elżbieta Szymańska, MD, PhDDermatologist-venereologist. He deals with classic and aesthetic dermatology. He works as a deputy manager in the Department of Dermatology at the Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior and as director of for medical matters, Center for Prevention and Therapy in Warsaw. Since 2011, he has been the scientific director of the Postgraduate Studies of the Medical University of Warsaw "Aesthetic Medicine".
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