Talking often with the doctor is important [2] to make informed decisions about your health care. These suggested questions are a starting point to help you learn more about your cancer care and treatment. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions that are important to you.

For patients with newly diagnosed skin melanoma:

• Can you explain my pathology report to me?
• What stage of melanoma do I have? What is the depth, in millimeters, of the melanoma? Is the melanoma ulcerated? Does my melanoma have mitotic activity?
• Is it likely the melanoma has spread? Why or why not?
• What are my treatment options?  What clinical trials are open to me?
• What are the possible side effects of each treatment option, both in the short term and the long term?
• How will each treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?
• What are the goals of each treatment option? What is my prognosis?
• Will surgery be able to remove all of the cancer? Do I need additional surgery?
• After the surgical removal of the melanoma, will I need a skin graft?
• Should I have a sentinel lymph node biopsy to find out if there is spread to the lymph nodes?
• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
• Is the cancer likely to recur following treatment? What steps can I take to reduce the risk of additional new melanomas?
• What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will I need them?
• If I'm worried about managing the costs related to my cancer care, who can help me with these concerns?
• What support services are available to me? To my family?
• Are my family members at a higher risk of melanoma?

Additional questions for patients with stage III melanoma (when the sentinel lymph node biopsy indicates cancer is present or when cancer is found in the lymph nodes):

• How many lymph nodes are affected with melanoma?
• Will the remainder of the lymph nodes be removed? If yes, what are the potential complications of lymph node surgery?
• Is there any extracapsular extension of the melanoma (that is, has the melanoma spilled out of the lymph node)? What does this mean?
• What are my treatment options? What clinical trials are open to me?
• What are the side effects of each treatment?
• What are the goals of each treatment option? What is my prognosis?
• What are the risks and benefits of each treatment option?
• Is radiation therapy or other therapy recommended after surgery?
• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
• What follow-up care is necessary?

Additional questions for patients with stage IV (metastatic) melanoma:

• Where has the melanoma spread? Is a brain scan or PET scan necessary to determine where it has spread?
• What are my treatment options? What clinical trials are open to me?
• How will side effects and symptoms be managed, to reduce my discomfort and increase my quality of life?
• What are the goals of each treatment? What is my prognosis?
• Is surgical removal of the metastases an option (especially if one or two tumors are present)? If so, what are the benefits and risks?
• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
• What support services are available to me? To my family?