6 years NED am I safe or is this a life sentence . I was diagnosed in 2019 with malignant Spitzoid melanoma 3b

A MySkinCancerTeam Visitor asked a question 💭
July 5
MySkinCancerTeam

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
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