Pediatric Melanoma Patient Resources

Connect with Others

Find Support

Biennial Pediatric Melanoma Summit

Information for this event is forthcoming; we encourage you to fill out the pediatric weekend retreat interest survey to get your insights and initial interest as they are crucial in planning this event.

Spot the Dog Resources

Online and Print Resources

Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Faces of Pediatric Melanoma video created by MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Center
Sun Safety Coloring Pages
MRF’s Parents Guide to Prevention
MRF’s Sunscreen Postcard
MRF’s Pediatric Melanoma Specific Webinars

Support & Financial Resources

Camp Quality USA: Overnight and week-long camps for young patients (some locations host siblings).
Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation
National Children’s Cancer Society
SuperSibs!: A melanoma diagnosis can be difficult for everyone, but siblings of patients are put in a very difficult situation. They can feel scared, overwhelmed, alone and unimportant. Here are some resources from SuperSibs!, now powered through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, for siblings who are 4-7 years, 8-12 years and teens, as well as a place for siblings to share their stories.
Imaginary Friend Society: A cancer diagnosis is scary for anyone, but for a child it can be even scarier. That’s where the Imaginary Friend Society comes in. A cast of characters inspired by the imaginations of kids themselves. Through a series of 20 animated short films, our imaginary friends explain a wide range of complicated cancer topics in a way that kids can understand.
Still Strong Foundation: Offers financial grants to different hospitals across the U.S.

Life After Treatment

If your child has had a melanoma, they are at higher risk of developing new melanomas than someone who has never had a melanoma. They may be at risk of the cancer coming back in nearby skin or other parts of the body. The chance of recurrence is greater if the melanoma was thick or had spread to nearby tissue. Other members of your family also should have regular checks for melanoma.

To increase the chance of finding a new or recurrent melanoma as early as possible, follow your doctor’s schedule for regular checkups and be sure to examine your child’s skin monthly (or have them do it themselves, if they are old enough to do it properly).

If your child is at high-risk for recurrence, follow-up care may include x-rays, blood tests and imaging scans of the chest, liver, bones and brain. If your child was diagnosed with early stage (Stage I or II) melanoma, these tests may not be performed. Visit our Living with Melanoma section to learn more.

504 Plan

After a melanoma diagnosis, your child will qualify for a 504 Plan. This will help you as you navigate the school system and work with teachers and administrators to ensure that your child can go to school with sunscreen and other sun protection measures.

AYA Resources

The needs of the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population are different from those of the pediatric and adult melanoma patient population.