Melanoma (Skin Cancer)

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, developing in the cells (melanocytes) that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. While it can develop anywhere on the body, melanoma most often appears on the face or trunk in men, and on the legs in women. It can also form in the eyes, mouth, or internal organs. Melanoma is much less common than other skin cancers but is more dangerous because it's more likely to spread if not caught early. The good news is that melanoma is highly curable when detected in its early stages. Risk factors include UV exposure, fair skin, history of sunburns, multiple or unusual moles, family history, and weakened immune system.

Treatable Condition

Expert Care Available

Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Home Care Prevention Surgery

Get Expert Care Today

Connect with our specialists for personalized treatment and diagnosis

What Causes It?

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure - From the sun or tanning beds, which can damage DNA in skin cells.

Fair skin - Less melanin means less protection from UV radiation.

History of sunburn - Severe, blistering sunburns, especially in childhood or adolescence.

Excessive UV exposure - Living close to the equator or at high altitudes.

Many moles or unusual moles - Having more than 50 ordinary moles or any atypical moles (dysplastic nevi).

Family history of melanoma - Having one or more close relatives with melanoma.

Personal history of melanoma - Increases risk of developing another melanoma.

Weakened immune system - Due to disease, organ transplant, or certain medications.

Age - Risk increases with age, though melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults.

Xeroderma pigmentosum - A rare genetic disorder that reduces the skin's ability to repair DNA damage.

Previous radiation treatment - For other cancers can increase risk of melanoma in the treated area.

Signs & Symptoms

Changes in an existing mole - Size, shape, color, or elevation.

New skin growth - Especially one that looks unusual or changes over time.

A mole that follows the ABCDE rule:

A - Asymmetry: One half doesn't match the other half.

B - Border: Irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred edges.

C - Color: Uneven coloration, multiple colors (tan, brown, black, red, white, or blue).

D - Diameter: Larger than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser).

E - Evolving: Changes in size, shape, color, or elevation; new symptoms like bleeding, itching, or crusting.

A sore that doesn't heal - Or that heals and then returns.

Spread of pigment from the border of a spot into surrounding skin.

Redness or swelling beyond the border of a mole.

Change in sensation - Itchiness, tenderness, or pain in a skin lesion.

Changes in the surface - Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a bump or nodule.

How We Diagnose

Our specialists use advanced diagnostic methods to accurately identify and assess your condition

Physical Examination

A thorough skin examination by a dermatologist to check for suspicious moles or lesions using the ABCDE criteria and sometimes a dermatoscope (a specialized magnifying tool).

Skin Biopsy

Removal of a small piece or the entire suspicious area for laboratory examination. Types include punch biopsy, excisional biopsy, and incisional biopsy, depending on the size and location of the lesion.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

For melanomas that have certain high-risk features, a procedure to check if cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. A radioactive tracer and blue dye are injected near the tumor, and the first lymph node(s) to pick up the substances (sentinel nodes) are removed and examined for cancer cells.

Imaging Tests

For suspected or confirmed melanoma that may have spread, CT scans, MRIs, PET scans, or X-rays may be used to examine lymph nodes and internal organs.

Blood Tests

May include lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, which can be elevated if melanoma has spread, and genetic testing of the tumor for specific mutations that might guide treatment decisions.

Staging

After diagnosis, determining the stage of melanoma based on thickness, ulceration, lymph node involvement, and whether it has spread to distant sites. Staging helps guide treatment plans and determine prognosis.

Treatment Options

Personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs and condition

Surgical Excision

The primary treatment for melanoma involves removing the cancer and some surrounding healthy tissue (wide local excision). The amount of margin depends on the thickness of the melanoma and its location.

Mohs Surgery

A specialized surgical technique that removes thin layers of skin one at a time, examining each layer for cancer cells until no cancer remains. This preserves as much healthy skin as possible and is sometimes used for melanomas on the face.

Lymph Node Dissection

If melanoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes, surgery to remove the affected nodes may be recommended, though this approach is becoming more selective with current treatment advances.

Immunotherapy

Treatments that help your immune system fight cancer, such as checkpoint inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, ipilimumab) and cytokines. These can be very effective for advanced melanoma.

Targeted Therapy

Drugs that target specific genetic mutations in melanoma cells, such as BRAF inhibitors (vemurafenib, dabrafenib) and MEK inhibitors (trametinib, cobimetinib), often used in combination for advanced melanoma with specific mutations.

Radiation Therapy

High-energy rays to kill cancer cells, sometimes used after surgery to treat the area where lymph nodes were removed, to treat melanoma that has recurred, or to help symptoms of melanoma that has spread.

Chemotherapy

Anti-cancer drugs that kill rapidly dividing cells. While less commonly used now with the advent of immunotherapy and targeted therapy, it may be an option for some cases of advanced melanoma.

Home Remedies

Sun Protection

Use broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) daily, wear protective clothing (long sleeves, pants, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses), seek shade during peak sun hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), and avoid tanning beds completely.

Regular Self-Examinations

Check your skin monthly for new moles or changes in existing moles using the ABCDE rule. Use mirrors for hard-to-see areas or ask a partner to help. Take photos of concerning moles to track changes over time.

Wound Care After Biopsy or Surgery

Follow your doctor's instructions for cleaning the wound, changing dressings, and monitoring for signs of infection (increased redness, warmth, swelling, discharge, or fever).

Healthy Lifestyle

Maintain a healthy diet rich in antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, stay physically active, maintain a healthy weight, and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption to support your immune system and overall health during and after treatment.

Pain Management

For discomfort from procedures or advanced disease, over-the-counter pain relievers (as approved by your doctor), cold compresses, or relaxation techniques may help. Report severe pain to your healthcare provider for appropriate management.

Skin Care

Keep skin moisturized, especially after treatment, using gentle, fragrance-free products. Avoid harsh chemicals or products that irritate your skin. Be extra gentle with skin in radiation treatment areas.

Stress Management

Practice stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or counseling to cope with the emotional impact of a melanoma diagnosis and treatment.

Prevention Tips

Avoid UV exposure during peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Use broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30+) every day, even when cloudy.

Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

Wear protective clothing, including long sleeves, pants, wide-brimmed hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses.

Seek shade when outdoors, especially during midday hours.

Never use tanning beds or sunlamps.

Be especially protective of children's skin; severe sunburns in childhood increase melanoma risk.

Perform regular skin self-examinations to detect changes early.

Know your risk factors and discuss them with your doctor.

Have regular skin examinations by a dermatologist, especially if you have risk factors.

Consider vitamin D supplementation if limiting sun exposure (after consulting with your doctor).

Teach children sun-safe habits from an early age.

Check the UV index before outdoor activities and take extra precautions on high-index days.

Surgical Solutions

Advanced surgical procedures performed by our expert specialists

Wide Local Excision

The standard surgical treatment for melanoma, involving removal of the tumor along with a margin of healthy skin around it. The width of the margin depends on the thickness of the melanoma. This procedure can often be performed as an outpatient surgery with local anesthesia.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

A procedure to determine if melanoma has spread to the lymph nodes. A radioactive substance and/or blue dye is injected near the tumor, which flows to the first lymph node(s) where cancer would likely spread. These nodes are removed and examined for cancer cells. Results help guide further treatment decisions.

Complete Lymph Node Dissection

If the sentinel node contains melanoma cells, or if enlarged lymph nodes are detected, removal of all lymph nodes in the area may be recommended. This more extensive surgery helps prevent the cancer from spreading but carries a higher risk of complications like lymphedema (swelling due to blocked lymph drainage).

Reconstructive Surgery

For larger or complicated melanoma removals, especially on the face or other visible areas, reconstructive procedures may be needed to improve appearance and function. This might include skin grafts, skin flaps, or more complex reconstructions depending on the location and extent of the surgery.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Our specialists are here to provide expert care for melanoma (skin cancer). Schedule your consultation today.

Book Appointment Online Call: (040) 4402 0000

📞 Available Hours

Monday - Saturday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Sunday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM