Melanoma Treatment: A Patient Video Guide - Early Stage Melanoma (Part 1 of 4)

Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center has developed a 4-part video series, Melanoma Treatment: A Patient video Guide in order to increase awareness of treatment options for all stages of melanoma so that patients are knowledgeable and empowered during their cancer journey. In the second of this 4-part series, Abramson Cancer Center physicians discuss the evaluation process for determining treatment options for melanoma and the different treatment options available to early stage melanoma patients. Things like the melanoma staging system, the different types of melanoma, features predicting metastasis and treatment options for early stage melanoma including Mohs surgery are discussed.

[@GregSr]

Years ago, in my early sixties, I saw a strange looking mole on my right forearm. I casually asked my regular doctor what he thought about it. He took one look and his eyes got big. He sent me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist cut the mole out and sent it to a lab. Then I got a call to tell me it IS melanoma and surgery will be necessary. While being prepped for surgery, the doctor could tell that I was not appropriately concerned about the melanoma. He got real serious, looked me in the eye and said, "sir, this could kill you". At that time, I was amazingly ignorant about melanoma. They ended up removing a lot of skin - about 2 inches in diameter and a 1/4 inch deep. They also took a biopsy of the lymph node in my arm pit. Thankfully, that came back benign (negative). They also took some skin from my thigh and grafted it onto the surgery site. My forearm now looks like something took a big bite out of it. Videos like this one do a great job of explaining the seriousness of melanoma.

[@bazzbling1]

best I've seen very good thank you!

[@fireblademan494]

I would say. When a surgeon or doctor removes the initial melanoma skin lesion If they don't take enough margin. Then after pathology results decide they need to take a wider margin. It's possible that melanoma cancer cells could enter the bloodstream.

[@Caleb-xf5yn]

That's what always scares me about the biopsy. By taking just a section how can you not push melanoma cells into the blood? But one of the reasons for the biopsy is to see how deep it is. That wouldn't be a bad thing except for the reason I just stated. And how do you know the whole tumor was excised unless you microscopically examined not just the edges on the surface, but the bottom for the entire area of the mole? The examination of the portion removed in the actual removal of the melanoma to see if they need to cut out more makes no sense. I think it's better to take more to make sure you get around the whole thing and down deep enough to make sure you get under it without ever the possibility of cutting anything other than healthy tissue, and not a combination of healthy and cancerous tissue with the scalpel; this way there's no chance of spreading it.

[@kevinsvlog4381]

1:42

[@VernalScott]

Very helpful. Thanks.

[@darkis9154]

My parents and I have like a band on the nail, I have it slightly but my parents boh have it slightly darker and on more nails. I don't know what to do, should I be concerened?

[@davinastanton3865]

Darkis, I have Melanoma stage 3. And like you I was worried about a strip going up my nail. I hope I put you and your parent's at Peace. My Cancer Nurse told me it was nothing. Only a mark along my nails. Please get it checked out if you aren't sure. I want to wish you and your parents Good Luck. 💗🕊⚘

[@Silentafterthought]

I came here because I was just diagnosed with 0 stage melonma skin cancer it's early stage but I'm still scared

[@jabg2716]

So did you survive

[@torkelmorteza6040]

@@jabg2716 yeah stage 1 is like 99% survival

[@bettyrose5387]

How are you doing now.

[@shellalumabao4718]

Is superficial melanoma safe ?

[@bettyrose5387]

Do you have it

[@jodycain2959]

What is PET scan? What is Non-Brisk?

[@padminiramachandran9553]

isiis is melinoma curabl e

[@bettyrose5387]

Do you have it

[@michaelcrisp2239]

please demostrate what 1 cm is,,or 2 cm,,,,just saying it means nothing.

[@JeanYvesB9]

1inch ~ 2.5 cm