Skin Cancer Service - Plymouth Hospitals

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Plymouth Hospital NHS Trust Skin Cancer Service Malignant Melanoma What are the causes? The cause of melanoma is not entirely understood but there is strong evidence to suggest that ultraviolet radiation caused by exposure to high intensity sunshine (causing the skin to burn) is a major factor. People with fair or red complexions are particularly at risk especially if they have been sunburnt during childhood and early adulthood. A small group of people may have a genetic predisposition to the development of melanoma and the use of sun beds is also thought to increase the risk of developing skin cancer. How are they treated? Treatment of malignant melanoma depends largely on the result of your biopsy, which usually involves close but complete surgical excision of the mole, and will tell us how thick your melanoma is (the Breslow thickness). You will be given the results of your tests approximately 4 weeks afterwards in the outpatients department. Following your biopsy you may need to have another operation called a “wide local excision” this is where a margin of healthy tissue is removed from around your biopsy scar. See additional leaflet on “wide local excision”. In some cases you will be asked to have other investigations to find out if there has already been any spread of your melanoma. Lentigo maligna (a form of malignant melanoma in situ) is not always treated with surgery because it has not penetrated into the deeper layer of skin it can sometimes be treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy creams. Malignant Melanoma Skin Cancer Service
Plymouth Hospital NHS Trust Malignant Melanoma Your Hospital Team Skin Cancer Service - Follow-Up Care You will initially need to be seen as an outpatient every 3 months for 3 years, this may then be continued on a 6 monthly basis for a further 2 years. At your follow-up appointments your melanoma site will be examined for signs of recurrence and your lymph glands will be examined for signs of enlargement. You will be shown what to look for in your melanoma site and how to examine your own lymph glands by your Consultant and the Clinical Nurse Specialist. See additional leaflet on “how to check your lymph nodes”. Telephone numbers for follow-up appointments: Dermatology 01752 439936 Plastic Surgery 01752 439937/431184 Oncology 01752 763994 Malignant Melanoma Skin Cancer Service
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Skin Cancer Service - Plymouth Hospitals

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