I have also wondered about this question of blood tests, so I am interested in others feedback.  My husband gets scanned (MRI, PET,CAT) regularly as his only method for detecting if melanoma has returned.  While my husband's case is unique, he had anal muscosal melanoma, he currently is NED.  I did a little investigating and found that most people are talking about the LDH blood test, and there also appears to be a more reliable blood test, S-100B.  You can look both these tests up on your computer, for details on what they detect.  My husband goes to Dana Farber and they don't feel any blood test currently available is going to detect melanoma to the extent of his scans, so we go with scanning.  However, I hope accurate blood testing just for melanoma is in the near future.  I would love to hear from others on their doctor's perspective on this matter.  Valerie (Phil's wife)

I have also wondered about this question of blood tests, so I am interested in others feedback.  My husband gets scanned (MRI, PET,CAT) regularly as his only method for detecting if melanoma has returned.  While my husband's case is unique, he had anal muscosal melanoma, he currently is NED.  I did a little investigating and found that most people are talking about the LDH blood test, and there also appears to be a more reliable blood test, S-100B.  You can look both these tests up on your computer, for details on what they detect.  My husband goes to Dana Farber and they don't feel any blood test currently available is going to detect melanoma to the extent of his scans, so we go with scanning.  However, I hope accurate blood testing just for melanoma is in the near future.  I would love to hear from others on their doctor's perspective on this matter.  Valerie (Phil's wife)

The blood tests are just one of the tools that the doctors check to make sure that your "systems" are okay.  In a quick snapshot they might indicate areas of concern.   It really depends on the doctors and patients as to what followup is done and the other factor is how many years NED.

The scans are also nothing more than a diagnostic tool as no current scan can say what is or isn't melanoma or any other cancer.  For that they use the biopsy, history and their own experience to work with you.

I just had a hunk of lung removed for biopsy because it was a lesion that wasn't acting right (like melanoma)  wasn't responding when all others in my body have.  It was close to an airway so the surgeon was able to do a rigid tube Brocoscope and get 2/3rds of the little bastard.  Unfortunately the rest of it was in an area too dangerous for this technique.  But I do have nice full color phots of it…

So now it's wait for the biopsy to see what this is or isn't. 

Jerry from Cape Cod

The blood tests are just one of the tools that the doctors check to make sure that your "systems" are okay.  In a quick snapshot they might indicate areas of concern.   It really depends on the doctors and patients as to what followup is done and the other factor is how many years NED.

The scans are also nothing more than a diagnostic tool as no current scan can say what is or isn't melanoma or any other cancer.  For that they use the biopsy, history and their own experience to work with you.

I just had a hunk of lung removed for biopsy because it was a lesion that wasn't acting right (like melanoma)  wasn't responding when all others in my body have.  It was close to an airway so the surgeon was able to do a rigid tube Brocoscope and get 2/3rds of the little bastard.  Unfortunately the rest of it was in an area too dangerous for this technique.  But I do have nice full color phots of it…

So now it's wait for the biopsy to see what this is or isn't. 

Jerry from Cape Cod

My doc at Moffitt tests for LDH at every blood draw as did my doc's at Mayo Clinic…my onc at Bismarck did not…not sure why they do it or didn't do it… My LDH sits around the bottom of 300…this week its 330. II have read it can change with illness, vitamins, surgery etc soI don't see how reliable it can possibly be….a plain definition of it I found –

Guide to the LDH Test for Melanoma

What You Need to Know About LDH for the Diagnosis of Melanoma Metastases

http://skincancer.about.com/od/diagnosis/a/LDH.htm

My doc at Moffitt tests for LDH at every blood draw as did my doc's at Mayo Clinic…my onc at Bismarck did not…not sure why they do it or didn't do it… My LDH sits around the bottom of 300…this week its 330. II have read it can change with illness, vitamins, surgery etc soI don't see how reliable it can possibly be….a plain definition of it I found –

Guide to the LDH Test for Melanoma

What You Need to Know About LDH for the Diagnosis of Melanoma Metastases

http://skincancer.about.com/od/diagnosis/a/LDH.htm