Skin Disorders

Doctors often spot melanoma during a skin inspection. The doctor should look for growths by doing a complete examination of the entire skin surface during each yearly physical examination. Many people detect melanoma themselves while doing regular skin self-examination. Early diagnosis is important-skin cancer would be almost 100 percent curable if all skin cancers were

If a biopsy shows melanoma, it is important for the doctor to determine what stage it has reached before deciding on treatment. Staging involves measuring the thickness of the original tumor and checking to see if it has spread elsewhere. This may require additional tests, including blood tests, chest x-rays, and scans of the bones,

Treatment of melanoma depends on the disease stage, the individual’s age, overall health, and other factors. Doctors usually develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient. Melanoma treatment often requires a team of specialists. The team may include: A dermatologis/dermatologic surgeon (skin specialist) A surgeon A plastic and reconstructive surgeon A medical oncologist (cancer specialist)

People treated for melanoma should see the doctor for regular checkups because they have a high risk of getting melanoma again. They may develop new melanomas or the old melanoma might recur in the original site or in new places in the body. The risk of recurrence is higher for people with thick melanomas or

The most important way to prevent melanoma is avoiding excessive sun exposure. Prevention must begin in childhood, because most people get about 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18. Keep these facts about sun exposure in mind: Regular, day-to-day exposure is usually experienced by outdoor workers and individuals who spend lots of

Scientists feel both concern and optimism about melanoma. Some think that thinning of the earth’s protective ozone layer may cause more cases of skin cancer in the future. The ozone layer is a band of gas high in the atmosphere. It filters some UV radiation from sunlight. Industrial chemicals, now banned in the United States

Here are some frequently asked questions related to melanoma. Q: How can I tell if a skin growth is melanoma? Is there any special appearance that I should watch for? A: Be alert for growths that ooze fluid or blood, crust or clot over, and then ooze or bleed again. A sore that doesn’t heal after

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to melanoma. Malignant melanoma is a rare but serious form of skin cancer. It is caused primarily by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun – especially sunburn. The incidence of melanoma can run in families. Individuals can have a predisposition to develop

Here are definitions of medical terms related to melanoma. Adjuvant therapy: Treatment given in addition to surgery for melanoma; it may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy Basal cell carcinoma: Skin cancer that involves cells in the lower part, or base, of the epidermis (the outer layer of skin) Benign: A growth that is not cancerous Biological response