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Melanoma

Associated Skin Care Specialists Our Services Melanoma

Associated Skin Care Specialists

Board-Certified Dermatologists located in Eden Prairie, Fridley, Maple Grove, & Coon Rapids, MN

Melanoma is known as the most deadly skin cancer, but you may not know that there’s a 99% five-year survival rate if you get diagnosed and treated early. If you’re dealing with suspected melanoma, or you’re already diagnosed, you need help from a leading dermatologist like those at Associated Skin Care Specialists. Schedule your appointment at one of our convenient locations around the Twin Cities in Blaine, Fridley, Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, Minneapolis, or Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Melanoma Q & A

What is melanoma?

Melanoma is the most dangerous skin cancer. This highly invasive cancer spreads very quickly, so a fast response is crucial when you’re dealing with melanoma. Although melanoma can be fatal, the prognosis for cases that get diagnosed and treated early is very good. It has an almost-perfect survival rate five years after early diagnosis and treatment.

What are the symptoms of melanoma?

There are many possible symptoms of melanoma. Some warning signs to watch for include the “ABCDE’s” of melanoma:

  • Asymmetry: half of a mole doesn’t look like the other half
  • Borders: the mole has irregular borders
  • Color: the mole has two or more colors
  • Diameter: the mole is larger than 6mm (pencil eraser size)
  • Evolving: the mole is changing in size, shape, or color

Another thing to watch for is new moles. Although most men and women have moles at some point in their lives, it’s not very common to get new moles when you’re an adult. Have your Associated Skin Care Specialists dermatologist examine any new mole or any mole that has one or more of the ABCDE warning signs.

What causes melanoma?

The number one cause of melanoma is UV light, which comes from both sun exposure and the UV bulbs in tanning beds. UV light causes melanoma development on completely healthy skin, and can also increase the chance of a benign mole becoming melanoma.

The following factors can contribute to melanoma, as well:

  • Family history of melanoma
  • Fair skin
  • Tendency to get sunburns
  • Live in a very sunny area
  • Large amount of moles
  • History of any type of cancer
  • Immune system illnesses

If you're in any of these groups, you have an increased risk of melanoma and should use caution with sun exposure.

How is melanoma treated?

The best melanoma treatment is one that fully gets the cancer cells out of your body so they can’t spread. Wide local excision is the gold standard of care, and performed by many of the board certified dermatologists at Associated Skin Care Specialists. Mohs surgery, which focuses on removing cancer cells in layers until the cancer is gone, is offered for certain types of melanoma on the head and neck. Associated Skin Care Specialists has four specially trained Mohs surgeons on staff.

Depending on whether your melanoma has spread, you may also need lymph node removal,  immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiation.

Use the online scheduler or call to make your appointment for melanoma treatment at Associated Skin Care Specialists now.

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