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When a melanoma comes back in the same area, surgery| is the main treatment.
Most melanomas can be successfully treated by surgically removing the melanoma. However, sometimes a melanoma comes back very close to the original site. This is usually called a local recurrence or recurrent melanoma. Occasionally, melanomas come back as ‘clusters’ of melanomas. The clusters are in the same area as the original melanoma, but a bit further away. Doctors sometimes call these satellite or in-transit lesions.
Surgery can be used to remove a single recurrence or more than one recurrence. But if there are a lot of recurrences it may be difficult to remove them all with surgery.
In this situation your specialist may advise other treatments such as laser treatment|, or isolated limb perfusion| or infusion with chemotherapy. These treatments are carried out in specialist centres.
Occasionally, radiotherapy| may be used to treat a recurrent melanoma that’s too big to remove with surgery or not suitable for other treatments
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.