Recurring melanoma--a case study

Melanoma occurs more frequently in Australia then anywhere else in the world, and has a notoriously unpredictable prognosis and the potential for very late recurrence.

This article presents a case study of a patient who experienced a local melanoma recurrence 19 years after initial diagnosis and treatment, and again 8 years later.

Definitive treatment, followed by a long disease free period and the cessation of specialist follow up, may lull one into believing a melanoma is 'cured'. As the main long term medical provider, the general practitioner is uniquely placed to detect late recurrence at a stage that could allow life saving treatment.