Six years NED (No Evidence of Disease) is a truly significant milestone — that's something worth celebrating! 🎉 It's completely understandable to still carry that worry though, and you're not alone in feeling that way.
With a Stage 3b melanoma diagnosis, reaching 6 years NED is genuinely encouraging. The longer someone Show Full Answer
Six years NED (No Evidence of Disease) is a truly significant milestone — that's something worth celebrating! 🎉 It's completely understandable to still carry that worry though, and you're not alone in feeling that way.
With a Stage 3b melanoma diagnosis, reaching 6 years NED is genuinely encouraging. The longer someone remains NED, the more reassuring the outlook tends to be. That said, it's important to be honest — melanoma does require ongoing vigilance, even after many years NED. Key things to keep in mind:
- Regular skin checks with your dermatologist remain important long-term
- Watch for new or changing spots on your skin and report them promptly
- Your immune system health can influence your overall outlook
- Early detection of any recurrence leads to much better outcomes
It's less a "life sentence" and more a lifelong awareness — which many MySkinCancerTeam members describe as simply becoming part of their routine.
Your doctor is truly the best person to give you a personalized picture of your prognosis going forward, as every case is unique.
July 5