Melanoma/Skin Cancer Health Center

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Tests that examine the skin are used to detect (find) and diagnose melanoma.

If a mole or pigmented area of the skin changes or looks abnormal, the following tests and procedures can help detect and diagnose melanoma:

• Skin examination: A doctor or nurse checks the skin for moles, birthmarks, or other pigmented areas that look abnormal in color, size, shape, or texture.
• Biopsy: A local excision is done to remove as much of the suspicious mole or lesion as possible. A pathologist then looks at the tissue under a microscope to check for cancer cells. Because melanoma can be hard to diagnose, patients should consider having their biopsy sample checked by a second pathologist.

Suspicious areas of the skin should be biopsied and not be shaved off or cauterized (destroyed with a hot instrument, an electrical current, or a caustic substance).

Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:

• The thickness of the tumor and where it is in the body.
• How quickly the cancer cells are dividing.
• Whether there was bleeding or ulceration at the primary site.
• Whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or to other places in the body.
• The number of places cancer has spread to in the body and the level of lactate dehyrogenase (LDH) in the blood.
• The patient's general health.

Although many people are successfully treated, melanoma can recur (come back).