Melanoma Monday: From Early Detection to Cutting-Edge Treatments
Source: Targeted Oncology, May 2024
Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is on the rise. But there’s a silver lining as this increase might be partly due to earlier detection. The use of Dermoscopy, a handheld device which allows closer surveillance of the organization of a mole or lesion, has greatly facilitated in detection of melanomas and moles that are dysplastic/or atypical. This device allows doctors to see the intricate structure of moles, helping identify suspicious ones.
For patients with many moles, mole mapping and other computer assisted technologies can help practitioners keep track of moles from year-to-year, helping to identify those changing enough to be seen as dangerous.
The treatment landscape for melanoma has also undergone a revolution with targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Our multidisciplinary team, combining surgical, medical, and radiation oncology, utilizes these advancements and incorporates targeted therapies that target signaling pathways upregulated in certain cancers and immunotherapy. This helps to expand an immune response against cancer.