Treatment of Melanoma

Melanoma is a cancer that develops in the pigment cells of our skin, called melanocytes. Patients themselves are the first to detect many melanomas. Caught early, most can be cured with relatively minor surgery. Melanoma can be more serious than the other forms of skin cancer because it may spread/metastasise to other parts of the body and cause serious illness and death.

Spots suspected as melanoma usually show one or more of the following symptoms and signs

* Asymmetry: One half of the mole is different from the other half.
* Border irregularity: the spot has borders which are not smooth and regular but uneven or notched.
* Colour: the spot has several colours in an irregular pattern or is very different than the rest of the moles.
* Diameter: Is larger than the size of a pencil eraser (6mm).
* Evolving: the mole is changing in size, shape, colour or overall texture. This may also include new bleeding.

 The vast majority of moles stay as moles and do not turn into anything else. Most melanomas do not arise in pre-existing moles. For that reason, having all moles removed to prevent melanoma does not make clinical sense. Some people are born with moles. Almost everyone develops them; starting in childhood. On average, people have about 25 moles, though some have fewer and others many more. Moles may be flat or raised and they may range in colour from tan to light brown to black. Moles may lose their colour and end up flesh coloured. It is unusual to develop new pigmented moles after 35.
In general, melanoma is treated by surgery alone. Doctors have learned that surgery does not need to be as extensive as was thought years ago. When treating many early melanomas, for instance, surgeons only remove 1cm (less than half inch) of the normal tissue around the melanoma. Deeper and more advanced cancers may need more extensive surgery.
Depending on various considerations (tumour thickness, body locations, age, etc) the removal of nearby lymph nodes may be recommended. For advanced disease, such as when the melanoma has spread to other parts of the body, treatments like immunotherapy or chemotherapy are sometimes recommended.
When it comes to spots on the skin, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Melanoma is a potentially serious form of skin cancer. Diagnosed early and treated properly, it can very easily be cured with relatively minor surgery.

The writer is a consultant dermatologist at Vibes Healthcare Ltd.

 

Treatment of Melanoma

Melanoma is a cancer that develops in the pigment cells of our skin, called melanocytes. Patients themselves are the first to detect many melanomas. Caught early, most can be cured with relatively minor surgery. Melanoma can be more serious than the other forms of skin cancer because it may spread/metastasise to other parts of the body and cause serious illness and death. Spots suspected as melanoma usually show one or more of the following symptoms and signs * Asymmetry: One half of the mole is different from the other half. * Border irregularity: the spot has borders which are not smooth and regular but uneven or notched. * Colour: the spot has several colours in an irregular pattern or is very different than the rest of the moles. * Diameter: Is larger than the size of a pencil eraser (6mm). * Evolving: the mole is changing in size, shape, colour or overall texture. This may also include new bleeding. The vast majority of moles stay as moles and do not turn into anything else. Most melanomas do not arise in pre-existing moles. For that reason, having all moles removed to prevent melanoma does not make clinical sense. Some people are born with moles. Almost everyone develops them; starting in childhood. On average, people have about 25 moles, though some have fewer and others many more. Moles may be flat or raised and they may range in colour from tan to light brown to black. Moles may lose their colour and end up flesh coloured. It is unusual to develop new pigmented moles after 35. In general, melanoma is treated by surgery alone. Doctors have learned that surgery does not need to be as extensive as was thought years ago. When treating many early melanomas, for instance, surgeons only remove 1cm (less than half inch) of the normal tissue around the melanoma. Deeper and more advanced cancers may need more extensive surgery. Depending on various considerations (tumour thickness, body locations, age, etc) the removal of nearby lymph nodes may be recommended. For advanced disease, such as when the melanoma has spread to other parts of the body, treatments like immunotherapy or chemotherapy are sometimes recommended. When it comes to spots on the skin, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Melanoma is a potentially serious form of skin cancer. Diagnosed early and treated properly, it can very easily be cured with relatively minor surgery. The writer is a consultant dermatologist at Vibes Healthcare Ltd.