what questions should a patient as before discussing treatment for malenoma

• Do I have melanoma?
• How large is my melanoma?
• How deep is my melanoma?
• Has my melanoma spread beyond the area of skin where it was first discovered?
• What additional tests do I need?
• What are my treatment options?
• Can any treatment cure my melanoma?
• What are the potential side effects of each treatment option?
Is there one treatment you feel is best for me?
How long can I take to decide on a treatment option?
Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?
What will determine whether I should plan for a follow-up visit?

Full Answer

What questions should I ask my doctor about my melanoma diagnosis?

Mar 14, 2022 · Below are some important questions melanoma patients should ask their doctors: What does it mean that my cancer has metastasized? Melanoma is more prone to travel (metastasize) than most skin cancers. Melanoma cells most often travel to the lungs, liver, bones and brain. Tumors found in those locations are still considered melanoma.

What should I teach my patient about melanoma?

Melanoma: Questions to Ask the Health Care Team. ON THIS PAGE: You will find some questions to ask your doctor or other members of the health care team to help you better understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, and overall care. Use the menu to see other pages. Talking often with the health care team is important to make informed decisions ...

What are the key points of melanoma?

Melanoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in melanocytes (cells that color the skin). The skin is the body’s largest organ.It protects against heat, sunlight, injury, and infection.Skin also helps control body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D.The skin has several layers, but the two main layers are the epidermis (upper or outer layer) and the …

How do doctors determine the stage of melanoma?

Surgery is a common treatment for melanoma. The type of surgery your team recommends is determined by the size of the tumor and other factors. Surgeries vary in the amount of tissue doctors remove. If surgery provides a good treatment option, you will meet with a dermatologist/cutaneous oncologist to develop a plan.

What questions should I ask about melanoma?

What information should be provided to a patient about how do you prevent melanoma?

What are the five things you need to look at to assess for melanoma risk in this pigmented lesion?

What skin cancer questions should be asked?

How do you stop moles from forming?

What are five risk factors for basal and squamous cell carcinoma?

What are the ABCD warning signs of melanoma?

What do big moles mean?

What to look out for with moles?

What is the best treatment for melanoma?

What is the most common treatment for skin cancer?

What are the risk factors for skin cancer?

What you should know about melanoma?

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. Below are some common questions and answers about the basics of the disease, its symptoms, preventio...

What causes melanoma?

Melanoma develops when damaged melanocyte cells grow uncontrollably.Melanocytes are found mostly along the bottom of the epidermis, the outer layer...

What are the signs and symptoms of melanoma?

It may be difficult to tell if a spot or growth on the skin is a mole, a benign growth, non-melanoma skin cancer or melanoma. Like most skin cancer...

How can I tell the difference between melanoma and other forms of skin cancer?

The ABCDE method may help you determine if an abnormal growth on your skin may be melanoma.Asymmetry: The mole has an irregular shape.Border: The e...

Can I reduce my risk of getting melanoma?

Exposure to UV radiation is the primary cause of cell damage that may lead to skin cancer, including melanoma. Most of the UV light that reaches th...

How do I examine myself for skin cancer?

Take the time once a month to examine your body, literally from head to toe. It helps if you have a large or full-length mirror and a hand-held mir...

What are my melanoma treatment options?

Surgery to treat localized melanoma may require a wide excision and the removal of lymph nodes. In a wide excision, a surgeon will remove a large p...

What side effects can I expect from my treatment?

Surgical procedures for melanoma may be painful and cause swelling, bruising and/or nerve damage. Surgery to remove lymph nodes may result in swell...

What types of doctors will I see during my treatment for melanoma?

Depending on your stage of melanoma, your care team may include a number of physicians, including one or all of the doctors below:A dermatologist t...

Should I think about taking part in a clinical trial?

Clinical trials are research studies designed to determine if new treatments are safe and effective, or whether they are more appropriate for some...

Melanoma: Questions to Ask the Health Care Team

ON THIS PAGE: You will find some questions to ask your doctor or other members of the health care team to help you better understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, and overall care. Use the menu to see other pages.

Questions to ask about stage IV melanoma

Where has the melanoma spread? Do I need a brain scan or PET-CT scan to find where it has spread?

Questions to ask about planning follow-up care

What is the chance that the cancer will come back? Should I watch for specific signs or symptoms?

How to diagnose melanoma?

Tests and procedures used to diagnose melanoma include: Physical exam. Your doctor will ask questions about your health history and examine your skin to look for signs that may indicate melanoma. Removing a sample of tissue for testing (biopsy). To determine whether a suspicious skin lesion is melanoma, your doctor may recommend removing ...

How to treat early stage melanoma?

Treatment for early-stage melanomas usually includes surgery to remove the melanoma. A very thin melanoma may be removed entirely during the biopsy and require no further treatment. Otherwise, your surgeon will remove the cancer as well as a border of normal skin and a layer of tissue beneath the skin.

How to determine the thickness of a melanoma?

Determine the thickness. The thickness of a melanoma is determined by carefully examining the melanoma under a microscope and measuring it with a special tool . The thickness of a melanoma helps doctors decide on a treatment plan. In general, the thicker the tumor, the more serious the disease.

What is the stage of melanoma?

Melanoma is staged using the Roman numerals 0 through IV. At stage 0 and stage I, a melanoma is small and has a very successful treatment rate. But the higher the numeral, the lower the chances of a full recovery. By stage IV, the cancer has spread beyond your skin to other organs, such as your lungs or liver.

Can melanoma be removed with surgery?

When melanoma can't be removed completely with surgery, immunotherapy treatments might be injected directly into the melanoma. Targeted therapy. Targeted drug treatments focus on specific weaknesses present within cancer cells. By targeting these weaknesses, targeted drug treatments can cause cancer cells to die.

Can radiation therapy be used for melanoma?

Radiation therapy may be directed to the lymph nodes if the melanoma has spread there. Radiation therapy can also be used to treat melanomas that can't be removed completely with surgery. For melanoma that spreads to other areas of the body, radiation therapy can help relieve symptoms. Chemotherapy.

What is used to close the site of a biopsy?

During an excisional biopsy, the doctor removes an entire lump or an entire area of abnormal skin, including a portion of normal skin. Stitches are generally used to close the biopsy site after this procedure.

What happens after melanoma diagnosis?

After melanoma has been diagnosed, tests may be done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the skin or to other parts of the body.

What is the treatment for melanoma?

Oncolytic virus therapy: A type of targeted therapy that is used in the treatment of melanoma. Oncolytic virus therapy uses a virus that infects and breaks down cancer cells but not normal cells. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be given after oncolytic virus therapy to kill more cancer cells.

Where does melanoma start?

Melanoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in melanocytes (cells that color the skin). There are different types of cancer that start in the skin. Melanoma can occur anywhere on the skin. Unusual moles, exposure to sunlight, and health history can affect the risk of melanoma.

Can melanoma be found on the skin?

Melanoma can occur anywhere on the skin. Unusual moles, exposure to sunlight, and health history can affect the risk of melanoma. Signs of melanoma include a change in the way a mole or pigmented area looks. Tests that examine the skin are used to diagnose melanoma.

What are the signs of melanoma?

Signs of melanoma include a change in the way a mole or pigmented area looks. Tests that examine the skin are used to diagnose melanoma. Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

Is melanoma a rare disease?

Melanoma is a rare form of skin cancer. It is more likely to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body than other types of skin cancer. When melanoma starts in the skin, it is called cutaneous melanoma.

What are the factors that affect the risk of melanoma?

Unusual moles, exposure to sunlight, and health history can affect the risk of melanoma. Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer.

What is the best treatment for melanoma?

Surgery is a common treatment for melanoma. The type of surgery your team recommends is determined by the size of the tumor and other factors. Surgeries vary in the amount of tissue doctors remove. If surgery provides a good treatment option, you will meet with a dermatologist/cutaneous oncologist to develop a plan.

Is melanoma surgery outpatient?

Most Melanoma surgerys are completed as outpatient procedures. Your surgery team has worked with you to develop the therapy plan that’s right for you, based on the details of your diagnosis. The goal is to identify the least invasive and most effective surgery for your unique condition.

What is the best doctor for melanomas?

Surgeon. Also known as a surgical oncologist, your cancer surgeon specializes in surgical procedures to treat more progressed melanomas. Surgical oncologists can perform biopsies (taking tiny samples of tissue) to test for cancer and confirm a diagnosis. They help you choose the best type of surgery for your care.

What is a cancer surgeon?

Also known as a surgical oncologist, your cancer surgeon specializes in surgical procedures to treat more progressed melanomas. Surgical oncologists can perform biopsies (taking tiny samples of tissue) to test for cancer and confirm a diagnosis. They help you choose the best type of surgery for your care.

What is the job of a surgical oncologist?

Surgical oncologists can perform biopsies (taking tiny samples of tissue) to test for cancer and confirm a diagnosis. They help you choose the best type of surgery for your care. Potential options include traditional (open) approaches or minimally invasive techniques to remove tumors and surrounding tissue.

What is an APP in medical?

An APP can be a nurse practitioner (NP), physician’s assistant (PA), or clinical nurse specialist (CNS).

What is the job of a pathologist?

Working closely with your oncologist, your pathologist performs and reads laboratory tests to determine the type and stage of cancer present. These doctors have special training to detect and diagnose cancer. They use a microscope to examine tissue samples taken during a biopsy.

How is melanoma treated?

Immunotherapy for Melanoma Skin Cancer. Targeted Therapy Drugs for Melanoma Skin Cancer. Chemotherapy for Melanoma Skin Cancer. Radiation Therapy for Melanoma Skin Cancer.

Can melanomas be treated with surgery?

Early-stage melanomas can often be treated with surgery alone, but more advanced cancers often require other treatments. Sometimes more than one type of treatment is used. Treatment of Melanoma Skin Cancer, by Stage. Skin Cancer Treatments [PDF]

What kind of doctor treats cancer?

Depending on your options, you may have different types of doctors on your treatment team. These doctors may include: 1 A dermatologist: a doctor who treats diseases of the skin 2 A surgical oncologist (or oncologic surgeon ): a doctor who uses surgery to treat cancer 3 A medical oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy 4 A radiation oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy

How to decide on cancer treatment?

It’s important to discuss all of your treatment options as well as their possible side effects with your treatment team to help make the decision that best fits your needs. Some important things to consider include: 1 Your age and overall health 2 The stage (extent) of your cancer 3 The likelihood that treatment will cure your cancer or help in some other way 4 The possible side effects from treatment

Why are clinical trials important?

Clinical trials are one way to get state-of-the art cancer treatment. In some cases they may be the only way to get access to newer treatments. They are also the best way for doctors to learn better methods to treat cancer. Still, they're not right for everyone.

What is complementary medicine?

Complementary methods refer to treatments that are used along with your regular medical care. Alternative treatments are used instead of a doctor’s medical treatment. Although some of these methods might be helpful in relieving symptoms or helping you feel better, many have not been proven to work.

What do people with cancer need?

People with cancer need support and information, no matter what stage of illness they may be in. Knowing all of your options and finding the resources you need will help you make informed decisions about your care.

How to assess melanoma?

The ABCDEs of melanoma assessment 1 Asymmetry. Moles may have one half different from the other. The mole may be higher, a different texture, or different color. 2 Border irregularity and bleeding. Moles should have smooth, round borders. A tiny bit of notching is allowed, but jagged edges or tails are suspicious. Bleeding or ulceration requires attention. 3 Color. If a mole has two or three colors or a variation that includes blue, black, or red, it's a warning sign. 4 Diameter. Generally, moles are 0.6 mm or less than half an inch across, or the size of a pencil eraser. Melanomas may be larger. 5 Evolving or changing. Any change in the mole over a period of weeks to months is suspicious.

What is the best treatment for melanoma?

Surgical removal of the melanoma is the most common form of treatment. It's essential that you inspect the incision for signs of infection or bleeding and monitor the amount, odor, and consistency of drainage on the wound dressing. Antibiotic therapy is often prescribed to prevent post-op infection.

What are the risk factors for melanoma?

Other risk factors include an increased number of nevi (moles), freckling, family history of malignant melanoma, fair skin, red or light-colored hair, and light-colored eyes.

How many types of melanoma are there?

There are four types of malignant melanoma. Malignant melanoma—a malignant proliferation of melanocytes—has a strong tendency for metastasis that's characterized by irregularly hyperpigmented asymmetric papules, nodules, or plaques with or without ulceration that can occur anywhere.

What is malignant melanoma?

Malignant melanoma—a malignant proliferation of melanocytes —has a strong tendency for metastasis that's characterized by irregularly hyperpigmented asymmetric papules, nodules, or plaques with or without ulceration that can occur anywhere.

What color are melanoma cells?

Malignant melanoma cells generally continue to produce melanin that allows the lesions to have mixed shades of tan, brown, blue, or black color (see The many faces of malignant melanoma ). Some families are genetically inclined to have a proliferation of melanocytes, making them susceptible to malignant melanoma.

Can sun exposure cause melanoma?

Some families are genetically inclined to have a proliferation of melanocytes, making them susceptible to malignant melanoma. Excessive exposure to the sun is often a trigger that causes a proliferation of melanocytes leading to malignant melanoma.

When You’Re Told You Have Melanoma

When Deciding on A Treatment Plan

During Treatment

• Once treatment begins, you’ll need to know what to expect and what to look for. Not all of these questions may apply to you, but getting answers to the ones that do may be helpful. 1. How will we know if the treatment is working? 2. Is there anything I can do to help manage side effects? 3. What symptoms or side effects should I tell you about righ...

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After Treatment

Diagnosis

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Treatment

Clinical Trials

Coping and Support

Preparing For Your Appointment