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Over 97,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed each year in the United States. Skin Cancer Specialists offers personalized care plans for adults and children to lower your risk for life-threatening skin cancer complications. Grant Heinz, MD, and Daniel Skinner, MD, provide advanced cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to address aggressive melanomas. They also provide superior follow-up care to prevent cancer from worsening. Call the Mesa, Arizona, office today to schedule a melanoma evaluation.
Melanoma Q&A
What is melanoma?
Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes, the cells that produce the pigment (melanin) that gives skin its color. While less common, melanoma can also form in your eyes or the inside of your throat or nose.
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds is a known cause of melanoma. UV radiation triggers DNA mutations in the melanocytes that cause the cells to multiply at an abnormally rapid rate. New cell growth ultimately forms a cancerous lesion or tumor.
Skin Cancer Specialists offer customized care plans for melanoma in adults and children. The physicians use advanced treatments, including surgery, to prevent the spread of cancer to other areas of your body.
What are the symptoms of melanoma?
Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, especially in sun-exposed areas like your face, arms, back, and legs.
A hallmark symptom of melanoma includes changes in existing moles. Healthy moles maintain uniform color, which is generally black, brown, or tan. They also have a distinct oval or round border.
Cancerous moles appear asymmetrical in shape and have an irregular border. Moles can also change in color, shape, and size.
If you notice changes in existing moles or any unusual skin growths, schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Skin Cancer Specialists to rule out or confirm melanoma.
The physicians physically examine your skin and may take a sample of suspicious tissue during a biopsy. They examine the sample under a microscope to identify cancer.
How is melanoma treated?
Depending on how advanced melanoma skin cancer is, the physicians at Skin Cancer Specialists might recommend one or more treatment strategies to destroy cancerous cells and prevent them from spreading.
Your provider might recommend:
- Immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Cancer removal surgery
If you’re a candidate for surgery, the physicians can remove cancerous lesions and surrounding tissue. They might also take out nearby lymph nodes if cancer spreads and recommend additional radiation or chemotherapy sessions to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Call Skin Cancer Specialists today to schedule a melanoma evaluation or book an appointment online.