Hello EmmieZ and thanks for your post,

It is difficult to be too precise as I am not involved in your care but superficial may mean that the melanoma is confined to the epidermis. This is the top layer of skin. It is also described as melanoma in situ. The doctors need to make sure that there is a clear margin when they remove the melanoma. Do check with your consultant as they have all your information.

You can read more about the staging here

You may find it helpful to read through the various links before your next appointment so you can have a list of questions to ask your doctor.

I do hope that this helps. If you would like to ring and chat this through with one of the nurses on the helpline then you are welcome to give us a call.

Our number is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5 pm.

All the best,

Catherine

Hi,

As Nurse Catherine says, Superficial Spreading Melanoma tends to be confined to the top layer of skin (epidermis) and, when it spreads, it does it horizontally on the skin. However, some SSM (like mine) if left for too long, then starts to spread vertically into the lower layers of skin and has the chance to then spread through either the lymphatic or blood system. If caught early enough it's known as a melanoma in-situ (Stage 0) and, once surgically removed with a good margin of surrounding tissue, the patient has no further problem. This website explains it really well Superficial spreading melanoma (dermnetnz.org)

You should be given the Stage either at your plastic surgery appointment or when you get your wide local excision (WLE) results. Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Whether punch or excision removal, the patient should always have a wide local excision according to NICE guidelines. Punch biopsies shouldn't be used for a suspected melanoma and it doesn't remove the whole tumour. I hope your husband is doing well.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

I had the whole mole removed. I’m waiting to have a wide excision. Thank you 

Thank you so much. I noticed it about 3 months ago. I’m just worried because it doesn’t look superficial to me. It was raised, pink and ulcerated. Can this still be superficial as it certainly doesn’t sound it by reading up on it. It has all been urgent which seems worrying too. 

My partner's was a punch as it was on his scalp. Not a lot of loose material to work with. He needed a graft when it was finally removed. He's stage 4.

Melanoma should be urgent whatever stage it's at. If you're coping it's healthy to be cautious and question. Writing down questions/answers and making them include you in the decision making. They measure the depth it reaches in the skin and grade from there. It isn't perfect but they get it right most of the time or the stats wouldn't be what they are. I don't like coming at people with a cautionary tale but we didn't take it seriously enough and didn't notice the lymph nodes in time.