Melanoma

Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that can be fatal if left untreated. At Foot & Ankle Specialty Group, we take melanoma very seriously, and offer Mohs micrographic surgery to help treat it.

Melanoma Symptoms

Even if you have worn sunscreen all summer, it is vital that you remain vigilant regarding your skin in other seasons as well. Periodically, you need to examine your skin to look for any suspicious moles. A warning sign would be a mole that has changed in size, shape, sensation, or color. In most cases, these are benign changes, but they could also indicate the presence of skin cancer. Other things to look for are moles or lesions that bleed, itch, or are slow to heal.

How Melanoma Develops

Cancer begins when abnormal cells begin acting erratically and spreading to other parts of the body. Melanoma typically begins inside of a certain category of skin cell. Melanocytes are special types of cells that can turn into melanoma cancer. They produce melanin — a pigment that gives your skin its color. Melanin also protects your skin from some of the sun damage that would otherwise affect it.

Melanoma can form anywhere on your skin but is most often found on the legs in women and the trunk in men. Other common sites for the development of melanoma are the neck and face. If your skin is darkly pigmented, your risk of melanoma is lower; however, anyone can develop melanoma cancer on the soles of their feet, palms of their hands, and under their nails.

The Stages of Melanoma

Melanoma develops in classifications called stages, and one of the first steps in the diagnosis of melanoma is determining its type in terms of degree of severity by classifying them with these stages.

The stages of melanoma depend on factors like depth of penetration, thickness, and the amount that the cancer has spread:

Stages 0 and I are localized. Stage 0 melanoma tumors are non-invasive and are confined to the outer skin layer. Stage I melanoma tumors have reached into the epidermis skin layer, but are small and unlikely to spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Stage II melanoma tumors are localized but larger, and may possess characteristics like ulceration that can lead them to spread to lymph nodes. This category of melanoma is considered high risk.

Stages III and IV are types of melanoma where the cancer has metastasized to other areas of the body.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Mohs surgery has become the gold standard in the treatment of skin cancer, with at least a 95% cure rate. This precision surgery is able to stop cancer in its tracks on the cellular level.

Mohs surgery begins with the administration of anesthesia. A small section of skin is removed and examined under a microscope to look for the presence of melanoma. Mohs surgery is able to selectively target skin cancer only, leaving healthy tissue intact. After the tumor has been completely removed, the surgeon begins the reconstruction phase. Mohs surgeons typically have additional experience in reconstruction, involving graft repair and cutaneous flap techniques. Until the skin cancer is removed, it’s not possible to know the exact size and full extent of the disease.

After Your Mohs Surgery

If you have undergone Mohs micrographic surgery, you’ll want to keep the treatment area fairly immobile and elevated to reduce any pain or swelling. The surgery site may be tender after anesthesia wears off. You may take an over-the-counter pain reliever or a prescription in some cases. Be sure to report any pain to your doctor, since this could indicate an infection or blood clot. Your bandage should remain clean and dry and stay in place. You will be provided with detailed written instructions about wound care, which usually include instructions for site cleansing using water and soap. You should plan to remain in town for about one week after your Mohs micrographic surgery in case there’s any kind of complication. You should refrain from vigorous physical activity such as strenuous exercise or heavy lifting. If you are a smoker, avoid smoking because it can slow the healing process. Your scars should fade as the skin begins to heal.

Follow-Up

Your doctor will continue to follow you closely after your treatment. Melanoma patients typically have a higher risk of developing another melanoma, so be sure to keep any follow-up appointments. Your doctor may ask you about any problems that you are having and may perform exams or lab tests.

Melanoma Treatment at Foot & Ankle Specialty Group

Dr. Salma Aziz is an American Board of Podiatric Surgery Fellow and the founder of Foot & Ankle Specialty Group, which has been a staple in the Rancho Santa Margarita and Newport Beach community since 2001. Dr. Aziz has built her reputation on time-tested practices and spends a lot of quality time with a patient going over all their concerns, which is unusual in today’s doctoring. Now with the additions of Dr. Petrina Yokay and Dr. Jessica Arneson to the team, we are able to provide even more for our patients. We are a professional, nurturing female surgeon group of foot and ankle specialists with a focus of getting you in the best health possible.