Rather than removing all nearby lymph nodes, which can cause troubling side effects, Sutter Health network doctors often do a procedure called sentinel lymph node mapping or sentinel lymph node biopsy. If cancerous cells are found in the sentinel node, the doctor may remove all of the other nearby lymph nodes lymph node dissection and have them examined in the lab. If removing a melanoma leaves a significant scar, you may choose to have reconstructive surgery to improve your appearance.
External beam radiation therapy may be used to treat melanoma. It is most often used to treat the area where lymph nodes were removed, rather than the skin area where the melanoma arose.
Being treated for melanoma can have a major impact on your life. Throughout your treatment, your doctors and specialists will work with you to provide pain management and palliative care services to help you maintain a good quality of life. You might also want to take advantage of some of the special services and support we offer at many of our locations, such as support groups and help from social workers, psychologists and nurse navigators.
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By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences. Error was Detected. Your browser doesn't support JavaScript code, or you have disabled JavaScript. Choose location Choose Location. For these reasons, it is very important that melanoma is treated correctly by a doctor familiar with cancer oncologic surgery, and head and neck anatomy. Many melanomas arise in previously known, long-standing moles , freckles, or other nevi pigmented skin lesions.
It is very important to remember that not all bumps or spots are moles. Ransom removes melanomas in sensitive areas of the face and neck. He then sends the tissue for specialized processing with microscopic examination of the margins, the depth of the lesion, and immunologic stains immunohistochemical analysis. Once confirmation is received that the tumor is completely cleared, he performs complex reconstructions, using meticulous techniques and local flaps. Ransom strives in all cases to ensure your scar is nearly imperceptible.
Melanoma removal and reconstruction is performed under local anesthesia or with sedation, depending on patient preference and other factors.
Please note that some cases require lymph node mapping sentinel lymph node biopsy, lymphoscintigraphy, etc. Please note that all patients are different and individual healing times and results may vary. The statements regarding procedures and recovery made here are general rules.
The first step to any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure is scheduling a consultation. Ransom will carefully review your concerns and develop a treatment plan that is most effective for your unique needs. To schedule your consultation, call our San Francisco office at or request an appointment through our online form. Read Patient Reviews ». Close Menu About Us. Meet the Team.
In the Media. Cosmetic Surgery. Mini Facelift. Endoscopic Midface Lift. Neck Lift. Neck Liposuction submental liposuction. Revolumization fat grafting. Revision Facelift. Secondary Facelift. Buccal Fat Removal. To help you deal with this fatigue, follow these easy tips help conserve energy.
Take time at the end of each day or each week to reflect back on the symptoms you've had. You can use a calendar to track your symptoms. Treatment Cancer Melanoma Treatments Surgery to remove melanoma is the standard initial treatment. Surgery When the melanoma is very thin, the biopsy may remove all the cancerous tissue and no additional surgery may be necessary. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells.
Biological Therapy Biological therapy, also called immunotherapy, is a form of treatment that uses the body's immune system, either directly or indirectly, to fight cancer or to lessen side effects caused by some cancer treatments. Radiation Therapy In some cases, radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, is used to relieve some of the symptoms caused by melanoma. Treatments we specialize in Hyperthermia HT Heat is used to kill small cancer tumors and to enhance the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery A specialized technique to treat complex skin cancers has the highest rate of recovery while removing the smallest amount of healthy tissue. Recommended reading. FAQ: Melanoma Commonly asked questions regarding Melanoma including, general information, seriousness, causes, malignancy, cure and prevention, and more.
Skin Cancer Prevention Skin cancer is largely preventable, and if caught early, it's usually curable. Organ Transplant and Skin Cancer Risk Organ transplant patients have up to a fold higher risk of developing skin cancer than the general population. Sunscreen for Skin Cancer Prevention All sunscreens have a sun protection factor SPF rating that indicates how long a sunscreen remains effective on the skin. FAQ: Cancer Pathology Tissue Slides Find frequently asked questions regarding cancer pathology tissue slides, such as how to obtain the slides and what to do with them once you do.
FAQ: Cancer Radiology Scans and Reports Learn the difference between a radiology report and radiology films or scans as well as why your doctor may be requesting these scans and more.
Self-Care for Caregivers Caregiver fatigue can be brought on by the physical and emotional demands of caring for a loved one with a serious illness. Communicating with Your Doctor The relationship with a doctor is a very personal one, built on communication and trust. Coping with Chemotherapy Each person experiences side effects from chemotherapy differently, and different chemotherapy drugs cause different side effects. Delegation to Help with Fatigue Fatigue caused by cancer treatment can make it difficult to accomplish even the smallest of tasks.
Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences. Error was Detected. Your browser doesn't support JavaScript code, or you have disabled JavaScript. Choose location Choose Location. Sign in or Enroll Enter a search term:. Change Location X. We've expanded your view You are now viewing all services in the Sutter Health network. You can change your location above to narrow your view to a medical group, hospital, city or zip.
Search Close Search. Skin Cancer Services in San Francisco. It's care that works for you. We're taking extra precautions every day to help keep patients, staff and providers safe. Featured Services in San Francisco. Diagnosing and Treating Skin Cancer. Biopsy Procedures Melanoma experts in the Sutter Health network use a variety of surgical procedures to sample your cells skin biopsy or remove an entire growth.
Shave Biopsy — The top layer of cells on a growth is shaved off with a surgical knife. Punch Biopsy — The doctor uses a tool that looks like a cookie cutter to remove a more extensive tissue sample, going deeper into the skin layers. Incisional and Excisional Biopsies — The doctor surgically removes a portion of the growth incisional or the entire growth excisional.
Targeted Therapy — Uses drugs to focus on a specific part of the cancer cells, ultimately disrupting their ability to function and causing the cells to die.
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