Melanoma Diagnosis and Treatment by Baltimore Doctors

Mercy dermatologists and surgical oncologists lead The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center at Mercy in Baltimore. The Center provides an expert team of specialists offering advanced treatment options for all stages of melanoma and skin cancers.

The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center at Mercy

The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center at Mercy in Baltimore, Maryland offers comprehensive care and leading edge treatment options for skin cancers including advanced-stage melanoma.

Knowing the Signs of Melanoma - Dr. Vadim Gushchin - Mercy

Mercy surgical oncologist Dr. Vadim Gushchin discusses the warning signs of melanoma. Learn more at mdmercy.com

These Are the Four Main Types of Skin Cancer - Dr. Vadim Gushchin - Mercy

Dr. Vadim Gushchin discusses the 4 main types of skin cancer. Learn more at mdmercy.com.

Melanoma Risk - Dr. Vadim Gushchin - Mercy

Mercy surgical oncologist Dr. Vadim Gushchin discusses melanoma risk. Learn more at mdmercy.com.

Preventing Different Types of Skin Cancer - Dr. Vadim Gushchin - Mercy

Dr. Vadim Gushchin discusses the different type of skin cancers and the importance of protecting your skin from the sun. Learn more at mdmercy.com.

Melanoma Signs - Dr. Vadim Gushchin - Mercy

Mercy surgical oncologist Vadim Gushchin, MD discusses how to look for, and reduce risk for, melanoma. Learn more at mdmercy.com.

The Warning Signs of Melanoma - Dr. Vadim Gushchin - Mercy

Dr. Vadim Gushchin discusses the signs of melanoma and what can be done to help prevent it. Learn more at mdmercy.com
About Melanoma

Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer. Normal pigment-producing cells become cancerous and aggressively invade surrounding healthy tissue. Most melanomas resemble moles and are brown or black, but they can also be pink, red, purple, white or skin colored. Melanoma is typically caused from exposure to UV radiation from the sun.

Fair skin, an excessive amount of moles, a history of sunburns and a family history of melanoma may increase the risk of developing melanoma.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Melanoma often appears as a mole and tends to be larger than a pencil eraser, uneven in color, asymmetrical, and ragged around the border.

Your doctor will begin with a physical examination, review of your medical history and review of your family history to diagnose melanoma. In most cases a biopsy is used to confirm melanoma. Your doctor will remove all or part of the suspicious growth for further examination by a pathologist.

Melanoma may remain only in the skin or it may spread through the blood or lymph system to other organs and bones. It is important to diagnose the tumor’s spread to the lymph glands early and the sentinel lymph node biopsy technique is a minimally invasive way to do so.

Treatment Options for Melanoma

Melanoma can typically be treated successfully if it’s detected early. It is important to know the symptoms of melanoma and to see an experienced doctor in order to treat the condition before it spreads.

Treatment for early stage melanoma may only include a biopsy to remove the growth. More advanced cases of melanoma may require surgery as well as additional therapeutic options for the most effective treatment.

The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center at Mercy provides a team of multidisciplinary experts offering the most comprehensive treatment for melanoma including:

The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center at Mercy offers comprehensive care and leading edge treatment options for skin cancers including advanced-stage melanoma