After surgery, melanoma can come back in three ways. Melanoma can come back at, or close to, the place it originally started, this is called a local recurrence. In this case it is usually felt as a nodule on or near your original scar. The nodule may feel as if it is sitting on top of the skin or under the skin. It is likely to look very different to your original melanoma and may not be obviously pigmented (brown).
Melanoma can spread to nearby lymph nodes. In this case it is usually felt as a smooth lump underneath the skin, about the size of half a grape. Lymph nodes exist throughout your body but are easiest to feel in your neck, above your collar bones, under your arms or in your groins. Lymph nodes can get temporarily bigger or become tender if you have an infection, such as a sore throat or other viral infection. However if you feel a lump under your skin that has not gone away within three weeks, you should contact your Melanoma Team (most coughs, colds and viruses settle within three weeks).
Your melanoma team may have shown you how to examine your lymph node. You may also find the two videos below useful.