Treatment comes after a melanoma has been found and diagnosed, so this guide starts from that point. It is written for someone who has a diagnosis and is preparing for the first treatment conversation. Background on the diagnosis itself is on the Skin Cancer Foundation's melanoma page.
From a noticed spot to a treatment plan
The path runs in order: a spot is noticed, it is examined, a diagnosis is made, and treatment is planned. This page covers the last stage, the planning conversation with your treating team.
What to gather before the treatment conversation
Collect your diagnosis paperwork and any records you have been given. Write down every medicine and supplement you take. Bring your own notes on the spot, including when you first noticed it and any photos. The Skin Cancer Foundation's self-exam guidance can help you keep those notes in order. Add a list of questions, and bring a second person to listen.
What the treatment conversation covers
The National Cancer Institute states that surgery to remove the tumor is the primary treatment for all stages of melanoma. Which operation, and whether anything else is added, is a decision between you and your treating team. Ask them to lay the plan out in order, one step at a time, with dates where they can give them.
When general sources and your own team's advice differ
General sources describe treatment broadly. Your team plans around your diagnosis and your health. If their plan differs from what you read, ask them to explain the reason, and ask for the explanation in writing. If you are still at the spotting stage rather than the treatment stage, the American Academy of Dermatology's page on the ABCDEs of melanoma covers the earlier step.
Scheduling each treatment step
Once the plan is agreed, schedule each step and put the dates where you can see them. Keep checking the rest of your skin as well. The Skin Cancer Foundation's skin cancer pictures give you images to compare against.