Parent with Nodular Melonoma

Good Morning JRM,

Thank you for getting in touch with us, and welcome to our online community.  My name is Lisa, and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.  

I’m sorry to hear about your mum’s diagnosis and that she is struggling to come to terms with everything.  It’s understandable that you want to support her but are unsure how best to do this.

It is common to have many different emotions, such as feeling overwhelmed and anxious, when first diagnosed with cancer.  If your mum is finding it difficult to cope with how she is feeling, there is help and support available.   It’s important to remember, however, that there is no right or wrong way to feel.  It might be helpful to ask your mum’s GP for a face-to-face appointment to discuss her worries and concerns.  Oftentimes having reassurance from the doctor can alleviate some of the stress she is experiencing.  

Your mum’s consultant or nurse specialist will give your mum information about protecting her skin from the sun.  However, she should still be able to enjoy the sunshine and the summer months with the appropriate protection.  There are a number of things that your mum can do to protect her skin, such as staying out of the sun when it is at its strongest, which is usually between 11am and 3pm, and your mum did this as you mentioned that she sat out for about an hour at 10am. 

Some other things that she can do to protect her skin:

• Wear clothing made of a close weave fabric as this will give her more protection against the sun.

• Keep her arms and legs covered by wearing long-sleeved tops and trousers and a wide-brimmed hat to protect her face, neck, and ears, and always wear sunglasses in the sun.

• Use a high-factor sun cream of SPF 30 or above whenever she is exposed to the sun for a period of time, following the instructions on the bottle and re-applying it as recommended. She should choose a sun cream that protects against UVA (at least 4 stars) and UVB radiation (at least SPF 30).

• However, sun cream should not be used instead of covering up or staying in the shade. The best protection is to cover up and to stay out of direct sunlight.

You also mentioned that your mum noticed some red patches on her arms, which I’m sorry to hear caused her to worry and get upset.  This may have been a heat rash.  A heat rash often looks red, with small, raised spots that can feel itchy or ‘prickly’, and there may be some mild swelling.  While a heat rash is uncomfortable, it is usually harmless and usually gets better on its own after a few days.  There are things to treat or prevent a heat rash.  If your mum has any concerns, she can speak to a pharmacist as they can help with heat rash.

For additional information and support for both your mum and you during this time, Melanoma UK also offers social, emotional, and practical support that you may both find helpful.

Oftentimes it can help to speak to other people who have had a similar experience.  We have a melanoma forum on our online community, which is a support group for people diagnosed with melanoma and their family members and loved ones to share experiences and emotional support.   

You, too, may also have some of the same feelings and may find it hard to cope. Talking to each other about how you’re feeling can help both your mum and you cope and can help you to support your mum.  However, it’s important for you to be supported, too.  Our family and friends forum is a place to share your feelings and get that support.

I hope this helps.  However, we often find that we can help more by exploring these questions over the phone.  You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts.  Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am to 8pm) or send us an email.

Take care and best wishes,

Lisa R

In addition to the above Nurse's response, our reference is AMc/LiR