My father (70) has had several skin cancers removed from his face over the past 10 years or so.

Recently he had a spot by his right eye that was removed and biopsied, and it is malignant melanoma. He went for another visit and they removed even more.

He came home with a huge bandage and they cut right up close to his right eye. He looks like they punched him in the eye and it is really swollen and black.

They just told him to rest and use ice. They didn't prescribe any pain medication, etc. He is being treated at a military hospital, sooooooo, not sure his health is their first concern, but....

My questions is how serious is this, what is the prognosis, etc. Should I try to persuade him to seek help from a dermatologist outside of the VA hospital? Any info would be appreciated and thanks....

Melanoma is a more serious type of cancer than the more common skin cancers, basal cell cancer or squamous cell cancer, which begin in the basal or squamous cells of the epidermis. Melanoma can spread (metastasize) quickly to other parts of the body through the lymph system or through the blood.
Once melanoma is found, more tests should be done to find out if cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging. A doctor needs to know the stage of the disease to plan treatment.

He should be seen by an oncologist (cancer specialist).

www.mpip.org (http://www.mpip.org) is a great informational website about melanoma. It's got info on staging, prognosis, treatments, research papers, etc.

Melanie