Diagnosing Melanoma Diagnosing melanoma can be a difficult task, even for a trained dermatologist or physician. Most often, once a suspicious lesion is identified — either by you or your doctor — a biopsy is done. When melanoma is expected, a “punch” biopsy is usually performed and the tissue is removed by a dermatologist and examined under a microscope. A trained pathologist or dermatopathologist should perform this examination. After analyzing the tissue, the pathologist will issue a pathology report. This report will include detailed scientific information on the biopsy and will help your doctor determine which, if any, treatment options should be considered. Additional surgery may be required to remove the entire tumor with normal tissue surrounding it in order to get clear margins. Depending on the thickness of the melanoma, your nearby lymph nodes may also be evaluated. Staging Melanoma Staging is the process used to describe the extent of the disease. It can be a complicated process and you may hear terms you don’t know. Three factors are considered when staging melanoma: T Tumor thickness refers to how thick the tumor is. Ulceration is also considered in this category. Ulceration can only be seen under the microscope. It cannot be seen by the naked eye. N Regional lymph nodes refers to the extent of lymph node involvement (read more about this on the next page). M Distant metastasis refers to if, and how far, the melanoma has spread.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
> You have been given a diagnosis — not a death sentence. > Find a support system. Family, friends, strangers, in-person, online, phone support — choose one (or more) that is best for you. > Every patient is different. There is no “blanket” treatment plan. > It is important to be an active participant in your treatment. Be your own advocate.
— 3 —
Made with FlippingBook HTML5