Frequently Asked Questions

Expert answers to frequently asked questions about melanoma.

Melanoma

Family History of Melanoma Question Does having a family history of melanoma increase my chances of getting it? Answer Christopher Miller, MD, Dermatologist & Moh's Surgeon at Penn Medicine responds: A family history of melanoma does increase your chances of getting melanoma. If you have a first degree relative (e.g., mother, father, and sibling) with melanoma, your
Recurrent or metastatic melanoma treatment options Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I am a nurse taking care of an MS patient who has a recurrent melanoma on the side of her face. She was treated with Thalidomide and it was stopped because she could not tolerate it. The oncologist's next step will be to try Temadar. I am looking for your comments on how to proceed. Julia Draznin Maltzman, MD,
Use of GM-CSF for the treatment of malignant melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Do you have any current info on the use of GM-CSF for the treatment of malignant melanoma? I would appreciate any help in finding most current info on the effectiveness of this treatment. Julia Draznin Maltzman, MD, Attending Physician at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, responds:The only
Melanoma Removal and Work-up Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I recently had a malignant melanoma removed. Is it important to do a wide excision and why? Do I need a sentinel node removal? Can anything else show cancerous cells in my body? Like a PET scan or MRI or CAT scan? Someone told me that every mole in your body could be found to have cancer cells. Is this true? Does
Ocular Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Can you please give me some information on melanoma of the eye?Suzanne M. McGettigan, MSN, CRNP, AOCN, Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Oncology Advanced Practice Nurse, responds:Ocular (eye) melanoma is not staged in the same manner as cutaneous melanoma (melanoma of the skin). It tends to
Radiation for Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Can a person with Xeroderma Pigmentosa (XP) use radiation therapy to treat melanoma?Carolyn Vachani RN, MSN, AOCN, OncoLink's Medical Correspondent, responds:There are a few issues here. For starters, melanoma is not very sensitive to radiation , meaning radiation does not usually work very well against melanoma
Leptomeningeal Cancer from Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," What are the treatment options for someone diagnosed with leptomeningeal cancer from melanoma? Suzanne M. McGettigan, MSN, CRNP, AOCN, Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Oncology Advanced Practice Nurse, responds:I did a search and found a single case study of a primary leptomeningeal melanoma
Mucosal Melanoma and Stereotactic Radiosurgery Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My question is in regards to a periurethral melanoma. Do you know of any surgeries done for this problem using CyberKnife®?Suzanne M. McGettigan, MSN, CRNP, AOCN, Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Oncology Advanced Practice Nurse, responds:Periurethral melanoma sounds like it would be
Interferon Treatment for Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have had a block dissection of the lymph nodes, and the sentinel node was found to contain melanoma cells. I am shortly going on a treatment course of interferon. Is there anything else I can do to improve my chances of survival? What do the statistics predict as my chances of survival? Your advice in this regard
Mucosal Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My friend had a mole removed 2 years ago and was told it was one step away from melanoma. She had 4 surgeries until clear margins were obtained. She was told yesterday that she had melanoma of the colon -had several scans and this was the only area that looked hot. She will have a PET scan done soon. How rare is
Follow-Up Care for Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I am a 29-year-old female with melanoma, stage T2N0M0. I am getting every-3-month follow-up visits/exams with every-6-month chest x-rays & blood work. Is there any opinion on getting any routine brain scans, since melanoma's "favorite" metastasis sites are chest & brain? I do not presently have any
Melanoma Biopsy Results and Sentinel Node Biopsy Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I recently went to my family practitioner about an odd-looking mole. He said he didn't think it was anything to be concerned about and shaved it off, but then the pathology report identified it as melanoma, Clarks level II and Breslow level 0.49 mm with involved margins. He then sent me to a dermatologist, who
Immune System after Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I recently had a superficial spreading melanoma removed that was quite small, approx half a millimeter in depth. (The procedure went well with) no problems and a fairly good prognosis. Since then, my immune system seems to be weakened, as I am catching every bug around. Is this an after-effect, and if so,
Types of Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Are there different types of melanoma? Suzanne M. McGettigan, MSN, CRNP, AOCN, Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Oncology Advanced Practice Nurse, responds:There are four general types of melanoma: superficial spreading melanoma, lentigo malignant melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma, and
Leptomeningeal Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," What is leptomeningeal melanoma? What medication can help? Keith T. Flaherty, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), responds:Leptomeningeal melanoma refers to the spread of melanoma cells to the tissue that lines the outside of the brain and spinal cord. It generally occurs in the setting of
Link between Melanoma & Breast Cancer Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on my left wrist in June of 2005. Monday I had an OB-GYN appointment and a "lump" was found in my left breast. There is no history of breast cancer or melanoma in my family; however, there are numerous other types of cancer: colon, prostate and lung. Could the melanoma have
Choosing Therapy after Surgical Removal of Melanoma (Adjuvant Therapy) Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have been diagnosed with melanoma, stage IIIA. After a 4.5 mm lesion was removed, I had a sentinel node biopsy which came back "barely" positive. Two weeks later, I had a complete lymph node dissection of the left groin. ALL came back negative - Hooray! Now I am faced with the interferon vs. vaccine
Lower Extremity Lymphedema & Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," What is the likelihood of developing lymphedema following a dissection of the external lymph nodes of the groin area for treatment of Stage III melanoma? Is lower extremity lymphedema more common or worse than arm lymphedema? Of the percentage of patients who develop lower extremity lymphedema after such a
Biopsy for a Second Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My husband had surgery for melanoma in October 2006 on his back. It was extensive surgery but no melanoma in lymph nodes. He had another spot close to where the original melanoma was that was biopsied and was pre-cancer. Now it has changed some, and the doctor wants to do another extensive surgery, but he hasn't
Melanoma Biopsy Report Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I recently had a punch biopsy done on my left forearm. Could you please help me understand the pathology report? DIAGNOSIS: Atypical intraepidermal melanocytic proliferation, trailing to the lateral side margin. COMMENT: Sections demonstrate an intraepidermal proliferation of predominantly single and focally nested
GM-CSF for Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I was diagnosed with melanoma on my left foot, Stage Ib, in 2005. In 2009, I was found to have a recurrence in the left thigh. This was removed and there appears to be no organ involvement. I do not want to take any toxic treatments and am wondering about your thoughts on GM-CSF, which is my plan for treatment.
Parrot with melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I am an avian practitioner in and am treating a 6 month old African Grey Parrot with a rapidly growing melanoma below the eye. Complete excision was impossible due to infiltration into the facial muscles. I am getting conflicting advice on whether to refer the bird for radiation, chemo, or to give up due
Metastatic Melanoma in Dogs Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have just learned that my 3-year-old chocolate lab has melanoma. I thought melanoma was skin cancer, however, hers is between her heart and her lung. I do not understand this. Thank you for any information you can provide. Lili Duda, VMD, Section Editor of the OncoLink Veterinary Oncology Menu,
PET for breast cancers and melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Can you explain why PET is used in breast cancer and melanoma? Peeyush Bhargava MD, Chief Fellow in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, responds:PET scans are very useful in both patients with breast cancers and patients with melanoma. In patients with breast cancers,
The Role of PET in Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My Aunt (age 58) just got diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma on the back of her shoulder. I think it is a good idea for her to get tested to make sure it did not spread to her lymph nodes and lungs. Would a PET scan be the best way to detect the spread of cancer to my Aunts lymph nodes and lungs? Are there any
Should people with melanoma stay out of the sun at all times? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Should people with melanoma stay out of the sun at all times? Christopher Miller, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, responds: It is impossible for any of us to stay out of the sun all of the time. Therefore, we recommend a more practical
Should people with melanoma stay out of the sun at all times? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Should people with melanoma stay out of the sun at all times?Christopher J. Miller, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, responds:It is impossible for any of us to stay out of the sun all of the time. Therefore, we recommend a more practical
Risk Factors for Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," What are the biggest risk factors for developing melanoma? Christopher Miller, MD, Assistant Professor in Dermatology and Director of the Moh's Surgery Program at Penn Medicine, responds: Multiple factors increase the risk for melanoma, some of which are in your control and some of which are out of your
BRAF Gene in Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I've seen in the media recently the new drug that targets the BRAF gene in melanoma and how it is having unprecedented success for this patient population. Can you talk to what exactly this means and how patients can find out if they are eligible for these clinical trials? Leslie A. Fecher, MD, Assistant
Protection After Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," How do I protect myself against the sun if I already had skin cancer? Rachel Woods, BSN, RN, Nurse in Moh's micrographic surgery at Penn Medicine, responds: Sun safety is always a concern. Think of sunscreen as your last line of defense. Cover up with clothing as much as possible and seek shade in prime
Vigilant Sun Protection and Still Got Melanoma Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have been very vigilant about sun protection for over 20 years. Why did I develop skin cancer now after I have stopped tanning so long ago?Rachel Woods, BSN, RN, Nurse in Moh's micrographic surgery at Penn Medicine, responds: That is a great question that many people ask. Sun damage incurred in your younger years
Past Melanoma, Could I Develop Others? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," If I have a melanoma lesion removed, could others develop?Christopher Miller, MD, Assistant Professor in Dermatology and Director of the Moh's Surgery Program at Penn Medicine, responds: About 11% of people who have a melanoma have a second melanoma diagnosed within the next 2 years after their diagnosis. The
Sun Exposure and Cancer Risk Question I work outside most of the year, how can I avoid getting skin cancer? Answer Gloria DiLullo, MSN, CRNP, OncoLink Content Specialist, responds: Even though you must work outside, can do a lot to protect yourself from damaging UV rays and to detect skin cancer early. Start by practicing sun safety, including using a broad-spectrum
Safety of Tanning Salons Question My daughter and her friends go to the tanning salon. Is this safer than being out in the sun? Answer Gloria DiLullo, MSN, CRNP, OncoLink Content Specialist, responds: Tanning salons are not a safe alternative to the harmful rays of the sun. Studies have found that tanning salons are very harmful and lead to an increased risk of
Melanoma in Fingernail Question Melanoma can occur under a fingernail: Fact or Myth? Answer Christopher Miller, MD, Dermatologist & Moh's Surgeon at Penn Medicine and Rachel Woods, RN, Nurse for the Surgical Dermatology Program at Penn Medicine resond: It is a fact that melanoma can occur under the fingernail. The cells that make the nail plate (the hard part of
Can Non-Melanoma Turn Into Melanoma? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," If I have non-melanoma skin cancer, will I get melanoma someday or can it turn into melanoma? Christopher Miller, MD, Assistant Professor in Dermatology and Director of the Moh's Surgery Program at Penn Medicine, responds: Non melanoma skin cancers (eg. basal cell and squamous cell cancers) are much more common