Melanoma (Cutaneous) : What can I expect on my first visit to the surgical oncologist for melanoma?

What can I expect on my first visit to the surgical oncologist for melanoma?

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Topic Tags:

What To Expect, Melanoma Treatment Process, Cancer Treatment Process, Melanoma Process, Surgical Oncologist, Melanoma, Melanoma What To Expect

Topic Tags:

What To Expect X Melanoma Treatment Process X Cancer Treatment Process X Melanoma Process X Surgical Oncologist X Melanoma X Melanoma What To Expect X

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Diseases:

Melanoma (Cutaneous)

Diseases:

Melanoma (Cutaneous)

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Expert Answers

PeterBeitschMD (Physician - Surgery - Surgical Oncology (Verified) ) - 04 / 09 / 2012

In my experience, patients come into my office fearing that they are going to die of their melanoma when the reality is that the vast majority of melanoma patients are cured of their melanoma - so most patients are reassured and relieved. The surgeon will give them a detailed discussion about melanoma and how it could potentially spread - locally, regionally and systemically and a plan to deal with each of these. Local spread requires a Wide Excision around the melanoma - generally 1cm radially out from the biopsy for each millimeter of thickness up to ~3cm from the biopsy site. Regional spread requires a sentinel lymph node biopsy to determine if the melanoma has spread to that lymph node. Systemic spread is assessed with body scans such as PET/CT, regular CT's, and MRI's.

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