What is melanoma and how is it treated?

Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes which are found predominantly ion skin. it is a serious type of skin cancer that causes the majority of skin cancer related deaths.

Although fair skinned individuals are most commonly affected, darker skinned patients who tan easily can develop melanoma as well. It is due to uncontrolled growth of pigment cells called melanocytes.

Despite many years of intensive laboratory and clinical research, the sole effective cure is surgical resection of the primary tumor before it achieves a thickness greater than 1mm.

Malignant melanoma accounts for 75 percent of all deaths associated with skin cancer.

Other options include immunotherapy, chemotherapy treatment, or radiation therapy.

I carefully examine all my patients from head to toe using a unique polarized light to help determine if the mole is suspicious or not.