Did You Know? Current estimates are that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime
Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. While only 4% of skin cancers are melanoma, the disease accounts for about 75% of all skin cancer deaths and the American Cancer Society estimates that 73,870 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year.
Surgery to remove melanoma is the standard initial treatment. The tumor and a portion of normal tissue surrounding the tumor, called the margin, must be removed to reduce the chance that any cancer remains. Later stages require more extensive treatment.
This resource is intended to help educate patients on what is melanoma, types of surgery and associated risks.
01 | What is Melanoma
Melanoma is a kind of cancer that starts in the cells that produce the pigment that gives your skin its color, known as melanocytes.
02 | Types of Surgery
The most common types of surgery used to treat melanoma include:
03 | Risks
Risks of surgery to remove melanoma include:
When melanoma is caught early, and can be removed by surgery, chances for successful treatment are much higher. For additional resources on melanoma surgery, please visit: www.cancer.org.
References
https://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/conditions/skin-cancer
http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma/melanoma-treatments