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)

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. 

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. 

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.