If your doctor suspects that a spot on your skin is melanoma, he or she will need to do a biopsy. A biopsy is the only way to make a definite diagnosis. In this procedure, the doctor tries to remove all of the suspicious looking growth. If the growth is too large to be removed entirely, the doctor removes a sample of the tissue. A biopsy can usually be done in the doctor's office using a local anesthetic. A pathologist then examines the tissue under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

 Measuring its thickness is believed to be the best way to determine the patient's prognosis (the outlook for chances of survival).

My Observations And Suggestions:

There is ongoing research on malignant melanoma and because it is such a unique cancer, many questions remain unanswered.  I have found my subscription and resulting interaction on the list serve at St. Johns University one of the most accurate and immediate resources to the latest discoveries and indications from world renown research centers.

Once again I encourage you to subscribe to the listserve I have mentioned in other departments of the SunBlitz Clinic.  Our library also provides extensive assistance to increase your knowledge and education on all aspects of patient information.

Please write me with any additional resource you encounter as you continue your effort at expanding your own research.  Thank you for stopping here.
 
 

Support Links:

 BBC News:  Late breaking encouraging research on inherited melanoma gene

 John Libbey Eurotext: The importance of not delaying suspicious lesions

 Newsday.com - Governor announces creation of cancer registry New Jersey resource for cancer patients

LEAVING MDLinx  Skin cancer is among the most expensive to treat for the Medicare population

LEAVING MDLinx Treatment research on cutaneous melanoma of the face by Mohs Micrographic surgery

LEAVING MDLinx Between 25 and 30% of primary cutaneous melanoma occur on the neck and head and of these 5-10% arise on the ear.  Men beware!

AMA (Comm) AMA study: Physicians' use of internet resource steadily rising

Les Pang's Technology Portal:  This page provides examples of web pages and portals exploiting the best of the Internet by National Defense University in DC.

Internet Health Sites: Reeves Medical Library at Cottage Hospital, a teaching hospital in Santa Barbara, CA.

Arkansas Cancer Research Center    Programs and outreach at UAMS Medical Center

Welcome Pathweb, UConn's Virtual Pathology Museum : Specimens organized by Systems on the top tabs

Educational Pathology Links : Although we have made reasonable efforts to assure the accuracy of information to which we have linked, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Department of Pathology does not assume responsibility for or endorse information available beyond our own domain

Standards, Options and Recommendations: Cutaneous melanoma Fully explained Clarks and Breslow indications

Melanoma & clinical & pathology report prognostic parameters :  If your local pathologist has very carefully processed your skin specimen and carefully determined the parameters, you will be able to find additional information on the internet or from medical contacts around the world.

Information about Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers :Non melanoma skin cancer is the most common type of cancer that affects humans. This year, there will be over 1,000,000 cases diagnosed and treated in the United States alone. This exceeds the number of all other cancers combined.

Skin Cancer Vaccine :a new vaccine to treat advanced melanoma. It's called Canvaxin.

What is the melanoma vaccine and how does oncophage work?

Cervical Lymph Node - Slides 7A-B :  This lymph node is from a patient with a history of melanoma. Can you find the tumor cells which have metastasized to this node?

Virtual Hospital: Metastases to the Breast: The Diagnosis and Management of Extra mammary Tumors Metastatic to the Breast  Melanoma can metastasize to the breast and this research explains in detail.

Kansas City Star 12/19/2002 Genetic signature is linked to breast cancer mortality Information on genetic signature in relation to cancer.

Please visit the Research section of my Library for more information.

Disclaimer:  This site was designed as a result of personal experience and is offered for educational purposes only. It is not engaged in rendering medical advice. The information offered here should not be used for diagnosis or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider.