Ivy Family Health Updates

 
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In this segment, Dr. Manjula Jegosothy discusses melanoma with Drs. John, Kathryn, and Edward Martin.

Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. We now know that there is a genetic predisposition to developing a melanoma. They are also related to sun exposure, which may be more of just a stimulant in people who are genetically predisposed.

When evaluating moles, a dermatologist is going to pay attention to the ABCD’s:

A: asymmetry , not perfectly round
B: borders - jagged
C: color - multicolored, for ex. Red, white, black, blue
D: Diameter: > 5mm, which is the size of a pencil eraser

Any of the above increase the risk that a mole may actually be a melanoma.

You should also be more concerned if there is a mole which is rapidly changing or bleeding, or in children if a mole is growing faster than the child. Not all moles are present at birth, and if a new mole develops which is black, it should be biopsied.

For patients with a lot of moles, it is a good idea to get a mole mapping done. This is done with a computer which will evaluate the moles and judge the probability of them progressing to a carcinoma.

Unfortunately there is no good cure for melanoma. A wide excision, down to the muscle is done for any biopsy proven melanomas. They are very metastatic, and if they are deep, there is a good chance that they will metastasize. For any deep tumors, lymph node biopsies should be done in the area.

There is no chemotherapy which works well for melanoma. There has been some success with Interferon, but not what we had hoped. There may however be some vaccines in the future which could help decrease the incidence of the cancer.