Malignant melanoma is an advanced form of cancer that develops from melanocytes--the pigment cells that give the skin its natural color. Most patients with metastatic melanoma develop abnormal mole growths of cancer cells, that can eventually spread to other tissues and organs within the body. Following the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic melanoma, patients must undergo regular follow-up treatments to aid in early detection of any new cancerous growth.
Regular Clinical Skin Examinations
A common follow-up treatment for malignant melanoma is a clinical skin evaluation, required at least once annually following melanoma diagnosis. During the examination, doctors check the patient's skin for any new mole growth, looking for growths that appear asymmetrical or irregular, abnormally large or abnormally colored. In addition, physicians check for any moles that have changed in appearance, since rapidly evolving growths may indicate melanoma, reports Science Daily. Upon identification of a potentially harmful mole, doctors may perform more thorough examination of the mole using a dermoscope, and may perform a small tissue biopsy to determine whether the mole contains cancerous or pre-cancerous cells. By attending an annual skin examination, doctors can identify potentially harmful skin lesions early in cancer development and help prevent the development of metastatic melanoma.
Monthly Skin Self-Examinations
In addition to clinical skin examinations, malignant melanoma survivors should perform skin self-examinations monthly. Aggressive melanoma may advance rapidly, and patients should check their skin for abnormal mole growth monthly, since a lesion that appeared normal in a clinical examination may become cancerous in the year before the next exam. By performing monthly check-ups, patients can more closely monitor the health of their skin, and seek medical attention for any suspicious growths before they become serious. Skin Information indicates that patients should check their skin for any sores that do not proper to heal properly, red or brown lumps and rough patches of skin. Patients should also check any moles for growth since the last self-examination, as well as the raising of previously flat moles, red skin surrounding moles and flaking on the skin over the mole. Following inspection, patients should discuss any skin abnormalities with a physician to help monitor the health of their skin.
PET Scans
Patients who had developed metastatic melanoma may require follow-up appointments to check for cancer growth in other tissues throughout the body. In some cases, cancer may have metastasized into other tissues at the time of diagnosis, but the cancer had not yet progressed into a detectable growth. As a result, patients with metastatic melanoma have a small risk of developing cancerous growths in tissues throughout the body, even after their cancer has appeared to go into remission. Mobile Diagnostic Centers indicates that follow-up PET scans allow doctors to identify any regions of abnormal tissue growth, which may indicate a site of melanoma growth. By undergoing regular PET scans, doctors may identify cancer recurrence early and provide treatment to prevent the cancer from developing into a life-threatening condition.
