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Melanoma
Can melanoma without metastasis avoid chemotherapy?
For patients with melanoma that has not metastasized, direct surgical removal can be performed, and chemotherapy is not necessary after surgery. Melanoma is a malignant tumor that originates from melanocytes and can occur in many parts of the body, with melanomas of the skin and mucous membranes being the most common, accounting for about 70% of all cases. Once melanoma is diagnosed, if there is no distant metastasis to other organs, curative surgical removal can be performed. Postoperative treatment mainly involves immunotherapy, not systemic chemotherapy. For patients who are diagnosed with distant organ metastasis, systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy are required.
How to alleviate vomiting from melanoma
Melanoma is one of the malignant tumors, and if one contracts this disease, it is important to treat melanoma promptly as symptoms are not very pronounced in the early stages. In advanced stages, symptoms such as nausea and vomiting may occur, possibly due to irritation of the stomach. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy can all have side effects. It is also possible that the melanoma has metastasized, causing a feeling of vomiting. It is recommended that patients take antiemetic medication to treat this, and in terms of diet, eat foods that are beneficial for the spleen and stomach, such as coix seed, yam, millet, red dates, and black fungus, all of which can help alleviate discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract.
Melanoma check what items
If patients suspect that they have melanoma, they must go to a qualified hospital for examination. The diagnosis of melanoma mainly relies on visual inspection of colored moles that vary in color and shape, which can be directly observed with the eye. Also, if previously existing moles have enlarged or changed shape recently, these are signs that we need to pay attention to. If patients are suspected of having melanoma after a diagnosis, it is recommended to perform a complete excisional biopsy of the lesion, followed by a pathological examination after the surgery.
How long does it take for melanoma to develop?
The duration of melanoma development varies because melanoma is a type of skin cancer with a relatively high degree of malignancy. However, clinically, the types of melanoma are diverse, and the onset time generally correlates with the patient's clinical phenotype. For some superficial types of melanoma with low malignancy, it generally takes several years to develop. For highly malignant melanomas, the disease generally progresses rapidly within about six months to a year. Once melanoma progresses, it can affect multiple parts of the body and severely impact the patient's lifespan.
Melanoma CT manifestations
The CT manifestations of melanoma vary depending on the location of the tumor. Generally, melanomas that occur on the skin can appear on CT scans as mass-like lesions, and the scans can show whether there are any urgent conditions involving the surrounding nerves, blood vessels, and tissues. Some patients may only show CT imaging changes such as localized thickening of the skin. In melanomas that occur inside the skull or in the vulva, the CT mainly shows localized mass-like lesions. These lesions are typically low-density foci with poor blood supply around them, and they generally have an irregular shape.
How to diagnose melanoma
For the judgment of melanoma as a malignant tumor, it cannot solely rely on clinical experience. Instead, the skin lesion should undergo surgical excision. During the surgery, freezing can be scheduled, and the results of the freezing report will determine the scope of the surgery. The final diagnosis still depends on the paraffin section. The diagnostic gold standard is based on the pathological results, and only a pathology examination can determine whether the lesion is a malignant melanoma. Diagnosing such diseases requires extreme caution due to their high malignancy and ease of metastasis, which can endanger life. Standardized surgical excision is necessary, supplemented by chemotherapy and other methods.
The significance of melanoma genetic testing
The significance of genetic testing for melanoma patients mainly involves two aspects: first, the identification of specific driver gene mutations to guide the application of targeted drugs; second, the detection of mutations in some common genes to judge the prognosis of the disease. Regarding the target gene mutations for drug selection, the commonly used ones include mutations in C-KIT, BRAF, and M-TOR. If mutations in these target genes are found, corresponding targeted drugs can be used for treatment. These drugs are generally orally administered, have relatively good efficacy, low side effects, and are suitable for the treatment of melanoma. Additionally, some genetic tests can predict the prognosis of melanoma patients based on the presence or absence of mutations.
Melanoma originates from which tissue?
Melanoma does not originate from any specific tissue, but from melanocytes. Therefore, melanoma can occur in any tissue where melanocytes are present. The most common sites for melanoma are the skin and mucous membranes. Additionally, because melanocytes are widely present throughout the body, melanoma can also occur in hollow organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, in skeletal muscles, and in the nervous system. Once diagnosed, melanoma needs to be treated promptly. The main treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
Melanoma cancer symptoms
Once melanoma begins to transform cancerously, the tumor will gradually grow larger, and the melanocytic nevi on the skin will also exhibit unusual phenomena. If various colors or a deepening of color appears in the melanin on a patient's body, it might indicate the onset of malignant changes. If a patient develops melanoma, it is advisable for them to seek medical attention promptly for surgical treatment, as this can help prevent the progression to cancer.
Melanoma is divided into several types.
Melanoma is a type of malignant tumor with a relatively high level of malignancy. The exact causes of melanoma are not very clear but may be related to multiple factors including genetics, irritation, viral infection, and immunity. Generally, there are four types of melanoma: nodular melanoma, superficial spreading melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma, and lentigo maligna melanoma. Once melanoma occurs, it is crucial to seek prompt medical diagnosis and treatment.