Melanoma

Diagnosis

People at risk for any reason should check their skin regularly. The skin self examination can check for new growths or other changes.

Skin Self-Examination :
The best time to do a skin self-exam is after a shower or bath. You should check your skin in a well-lighted room using a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror. You should be familiar with your birthmarks, moles and blemishes and what they usually look and feel like. Check the skin for any new mole that looks abnormal, a change in the size, shape, color or texture of a mole. Check yourself from head to toe. Don’t forget to check all areas of the skin, including the back, the scalp, between the buttocks, and the genital area.

By checking your skin regularly, you will become familiar with what is normal for you. It may be helpful to record the dates of your skin exams and to write notes about the way your skin looks. If you find anything unusual, see your doctor right away.

If the doctor suspects that a spot on the skin is melanoma, the patient will need to have a biopsy. It is the only way to make a definite diagnosis.

Biopsy :
It is the method of removal of cells or tissues for examination by a pathologist. When only a sample of tissue is removed, the procedure is called an incisional biopsy. When an entire lump or suspicious area is removed, the procedure is called an excisional biopsy. When a sample of tissue or fluid is removed with a needle, the procedure is called a needle biopsy, core biopsy or fine-needle aspiration.

Biopsy is done using local anesthesia. The pathologist then examines the tissue under a microscope to see if any melanoma cells are present.

The doctor also does a careful physical exam and, if the tumor is thick, may order chest x-rays, blood tests, and scans of the liver, bones, and brain.