Helpful tips / 29/05/2020

Can you get melanoma in your shoulder?

Melanoma can appear on the body as a new mole, or one that has changed in size, shape, feeling or color, or developed oozing or bleeding. Adult men most often get melanoma on the trunk, especially between the shoulder blades, or on the head or neck. Women most often get melanoma on the arms and legs.

How were you diagnosed with melanoma?

Initial diagnosis Your doctor may conduct the following tests and procedures: A skin exam checks for moles, birthmarks, or other pigmented areas that look abnormal in color, size, shape, or texture. During a biopsy, your doctor may remove all or part of the abnormal skin and a small amount of normal tissue around it.

Can melanoma be undetected for years?

How long can you have melanoma and not know it? It depends on the type of melanoma. For example, nodular melanoma grows rapidly over a matter of weeks, while a radial melanoma can slowly spread over the span of a decade. Like a cavity, a melanoma may grow for years before producing any significant symptoms.

When to see a doctor for advanced melanoma?

Find out about possible symptoms of advanced melanoma skin cancer and when to see your doctor. Advanced melanoma means the melanoma has spread from where it started to another part of the body. The symptoms depend on where the cancer is in the body. They might include:

What to do if melanoma has spread beyond the skin?

If melanoma has spread beyond the skin, treatment options may include: Surgery to remove affected lymph nodes. If melanoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes, your surgeon may remove the affected nodes. Additional treatments before or after surgery also may be recommended. Immunotherapy.

How is a skin biopsy used to diagnose melanoma?

If you’ve been diagnosed with melanoma, you’ve already had a skin biopsy. This biopsy was taken when you had part (or all) of the suspicious spot removed. After it was removed, a doctor looked at the spot under a microscope to find out if it contained cancer cells.

What are the signs and symptoms of advanced melanoma?

Advanced melanoma means the melanoma has spread from where it started to another part of the body. The symptoms depend on where the cancer is in the body. They might include: It might not mean that you have advanced cancer if you have the symptoms described below. They can be caused by other conditions.

What should I do with my melanoma pathology report?

Samples of your melanoma tissue, removed during surgery or biopsy, will be sent to them for review. The pathology report is a result of their findings. This report contains important information about the tumor which is used to make treatment decisions. You should ask for a copy of this report and keep it in your personal medical files.