Removal of melanoma – Treatment of melanoma

Description remove melanoma

Removal of melanoma – surgery to remove skin tissue, in which there are cancer cells. Skin cancer is called melanoma.

Reasons for removal of melanoma

Removing melanoma held for the treatment of melanoma – Skin Cancer.

Possible complications of melanoma removal

Complications are rare, but the procedure does not guarantee the absence of risk. If you plan on removing the melanoma, you need to know about possible complications, which may include:

• Infection;
• Bleeding;
• Incomplete removal of the cancer cells;
• Repetition and spread of cancer;
• Nerve Damage;
• Scarring.

Factors, that may increase the risk of complications:

• Smoking.

How is the removal of the melanoma?

Preparation for the procedure

Depending on the stage of the disease, It can be carried out as follows:

• Medical examination of the skin;
• Biopsy suspicious skin areas;
• Chest X-ray, to take pictures of structures of the chest;
• Blood tests;
• Studies using medical imaging techniques – CT, MRT or PET;
• Biopsy limfouzlov, to determine the area of ​​cancer spread.

Anesthesia

To numb the area removing the cancer is often used local anesthesia.

Maybe, You will need to use general anesthesia, If a large area of ​​the melanoma. In this case during the operation you will sleep.

Procedure remove melanoma

Surgical removal of the cancerous cells is the primary treatment for melanoma. Types of operations include:

• Простое иссечение меланомы – usually, This method makes it possible to completely cure relatively small melanoma. Tumors were excised together with a small amount of normal, healthy cells. Early sutured, on-site operation is usually a scar;
• Wide excision – cut off a larger amount of skin, to ensure complete removal of cancer cells;
• Ablation – If the melanoma is on a finger or toe, It may be necessary to remove the cancerous organ;
• Lymph node dissection – if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, Some of them will be surgically removed for laboratory examination.

Depending on, How extensive is the removal of the melanoma, the surgical site can be sewn stitches or require skin grafting to restore. The stitches will be removed through 7-14 days after surgery, depending on the location and extent of the removal of the skin.

After removal of the Melanoma

The removed tissue will be examined in the laboratory.

In more complex cases of melanoma may be necessary other treatments . These include:

• Chemotherapy – the use of drugs to kill cancer cells;
• Radiation therapy – Use of radiation, to kill cancer cells;
• Immunotherapy – It uses the body's immune system, to kill cancer cells;
• Biological Therapy – eg, gennaya therapy, cancer vaccines, monoclonal antibodies.

How long will the removal of a melanoma?

It depends on the type of operation and melanoma. Easy removal may take less than an hour.

Removal of melanoma – Will it hurt?

Anesthesia prevents pain during the procedure. During recovery, you may have pain in the area of ​​operations. You will receive medicine, to relieve pain.

Keeping the postoperative period while removing the melanoma

• Keep the area clean operation, dry and secure the bandage. Gently wash it with a mild soap;
• If recommended by your doctor, you need to apply an antibiotic ointment on the dressing before it is used;
• If prescribed by a doctor, you need to take pain medication and antibiotics;
• Avoid vigorous exercise according to your doctor's recommendations.

Talk to your doctor about appropriate ways, to protect the skin from sun damage. These measures may include the use of sunscreen and wearing protective clothing.

Ask the doctor, when it is safe to shower, bathe, or to expose the cut by water. You must be inspected regularly for recurrence of skin cancer cells. Inspection will also need to carry out their own, to find new or changing moles. Your doctor will tell you, how to conduct a self-examination.

Contact your doctor after removal of melanoma

Once home, you need to see a doctor, If the following symptoms:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills;
• Redness, edema, increased pain, bleeding, or discharge from the incision;
• Pain, which does not pass after taking pain medication appointed;
• Новая опухоль или обесцвечивание кожи, changes (color, bleeding, itch, growth) existing moles on the surgical site or to a new location;
• Other symptoms.