You or someone you love have just been diagnosed with melanoma — now what? In addition to dealing with the stress, anxiety, or even fear — you’ll be asked to make important decisions about your treatment and care plan. After taking a deep breath — here are 10 things you can do to get up to speed and regain control as you start your journey with melanoma.
Learn about the different components of your pathology report, and explore a thorough glossary of melanoma terms.
Because the melanoma treatment landscape changed rapidly due to research advances, it's important to seek out a doctor who treats many melanoma patients.
Your friends and family play a critical role as part of your team. They can support you in many ways, such as providing emotional support, going with you to appointments, and more.
Your insurance network will likely influence which facilities you go to, which doctors you see, and how much your out-of-pockets costs will be. Also, learn more about assistance programs that can supplement insurance.
Compiling test results, pathology reports, treatment summaries, and other notes into a binder or folder can help you stay organized, better understand your diagnosis and treatment plan, and manage your finances.
In melanoma, because of the fast-moving pace of research, second opinions can be a critical step – giving you a different perspective needed to make the best, most informed decision for you.
From online support communities like MRA’s Melanoma Exchange, to in-person events in your community, and peer programs – there are many ways to tap into this vibrant community.
During your melanoma journey, few relationships are more important than the bond between you and your doctor. You are a team, and teams work best when the communication flows freely in both directions.
Throughout your journey with melanoma, it’s important to listen to your body, give yourself some slack, and to remember that you are more than any diagnosis.
Before you start to make treatment decisions, you should get up to speed on all of your options — including clinical trials. This is particularly important for patients with advanced stages of melanoma.
