Melanoma Diagnosis And Treatment Resource
Welcome. Is your Melanoma diagnosis overwhelming? XpertPatient is an award-winning site that has been purposely designed by doctors, nurses & patients to help you or your loved one achieve the best treatment results possible.
XpertPatient offers information not available anywhere else including the ability to compare your FDA-approved Melanoma treatment options side-by-side, so you can choose the best option for you.
Melanoma ICD 10 Code is C43.9.
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What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer that forms in melanocytes, the cells that produce the pigment melanin which color your skin.
Melanoma Diagnosis
The diagnosis tests for melanoma cancer involve a combination of physical exams, imaging tests, and biopsy procedures:
Diagnosing Advanced Melanoma
- Lymph node mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy include the removal of the sentinel lymph node to see if cancer cells are present.
- A CT scan (CAT scan) takes a series of detailed images of suspicious areas. For melanoma, pictures may be taken of the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis.
- A PET scan (positron emission tomography scan) is a procedure that uses a small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) injected into a vein. Malignant tumor cells show up brighter in the picture.
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) with gadolinium is a procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed images. A substance called gadolinium is injected into a vein. The gadolinium collects around the cancer cells, so they show up brighter in the picture.
- Sonogram is a procedure that shows what’s going on inside the body by examining tissues.
Melanoma Prognosis
Melanoma cancer prognosis differs greatly based on the stage of cancer at diagnosis. Early-stage melanoma has a high survival rate, usually curable with surgery. As the cancer advances (regional or metastatic), the chances of survival decrease because the cancer can spread to other parts of the body.
Melanoma Treatments
Various melanoma skin cancer treatments are available to destroy cancer cells and boost your health. Below are effective melanoma cancer treatments:
- Surgery: Melanoma skin cancer surgery typically involves removing the entire melanoma in a biopsy, and no further melanoma cancer surgery is required.
- Radiation therapy: Radiation treatment for melanoma skin cancer uses powerful energy beams to treat the cancer. X-rays, protons, or other means can generate energy.
- Immunotherapy for cancer utilizes medications to stimulate the body’s immune system and target and combat cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy for melanoma skin cancer uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. There are many types of chemotherapy medicines available given through the veins or in tablet format.
Nodular Melanoma. Nodular Melanoma Pictures
Nodular Melanoma is rare but can be especially dangerous because it tends to grow and spread quickly. Unlike some other melanomas, it usually doesn’t show early warning signs and often spreads to other parts of the body before it's found.
Melanoma Survival Rate 
94.1%
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A Cancer Diagnosis Is A Rollercoaster
Coping with Cancer
My Treatment Team
My Treatment Team
- MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST: A doctor who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer in adults using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy.
- SURGICAL ONCOLOGIST: Doctor who uses surgery to remove tumors.
- RADIATION ONCOLOGIST: Doctor who prescribes radiation therapy (beams of high-energy radiation, or radioactive seed implants) to shrink or eliminate tumors
- NURSE: Seen more then anyone, your nurses will provide medical care, answer questions, offer hope and suggest ways to talk with family and friends about your feelings.
- PATHOLOGIST: Doctor who has special training in identifying diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope.
- ONCOLOGY NURSE: Specializes in treating and caring for people who have cancer.
- PATIENT NAVIGATOR: Patient or health educators help you and your family learn more about your cancer by finding information that fits your needs
We Know You’re Tired but Keep Exercising!
Exercise Benefits Cancer Patients
Kathryn Schmitz,
Ph.D., M.P.H.,
Penn State College
of Medicine
10 Must-Know Terms
10 Must-Know Terms
- BIOPSY: Removal & examination of cells or tissue to determine if you have cancer or the amount of cancer in your body.
- BIOMARKER TESTING: A way to look for genes, proteins, and/or substances that can provide information about your specific cancer. This testing will help you & your dr. choose the best cancer treatment for you.
- LOCALIZED CANCER: Your cancer is still only found “locally” or within the organ where the cancer began.
- METASTATIC CANCER: Your cancer has spread from the place where it started to other places in your body.
- RADIATION THERAPY: A treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
- CHEMOTHERAPY: A treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
- IMMUNOTHERAPY: A treatment that uses your own immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection, and other diseases.
- TARGETED THERAPY: A treatment that identifies and attacks specific types of cancer cells with less harm to normal cells then other treatments typically resulting in less side effects.
- INTRAVENOUS (IV): Most common type of infusion; used to put fluids, including cancer drugs directly into your bloodstream.
- SIDE EFFECTS: Secondary, typically undesirable, effects of a drug treatment affecting healthy tissues or organs
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XpertPatient’s team is committed to helping those new to cancer understand their cancer diagnosis, the differences between their latest cancer treatment options as well as what questions to ask. All of our content has been curated and refined for easier understanding, collaboration and sharing.
The original source for all diagnosis-related content is Cancer.gov. The original source for all treatment-related content is the NCCN Guidelines. Preferred Category 1 and 2A treatment options can be compared.
An award-winning customer experience expert, 2x cancer caregiver and health innovator, Risa launched XpertPatient.com to better education & empower patients & caregivers early on in their cancer journey, something proven to drive better outcomes.
Everyone asks “how is XpertPatient different?” While all of the latest research shows that better-educated & involved patients experience less anxiety, less treatment side-effects; and ultimately achieve better outcomes*, more than 1/2 of them won’t feel confident having treatment option conversations with their doctors. At XpertPatient we are on a mission to change that. To build an army of active health consumers.
A dynamic visionary focused on innovative and high-impact responses to significant societal issues, Carolyn plays a critical role in identifying critical cancer education needs, trusted third party resources and gaps in patient and caregiver care needs many serving as the foundation for the unique services delivered by XpertPatient.com.
“XpertPatient provides a critical resource by delivering unbiased treatment information and discussion guides patients can use to have more substantive conversations with their care providers. Surfacing information needed to make informed decisions is a critical step to achieving the best possible outcomes.”
As a seasoned cancer patient navigator, Shari is a critical member of XpertPatient’s Customer Experience Team working to ensure the content and services we deliver reflect the most urgent needs of families on a cancer journey, both big and small and wherever possible offer personalized guidance that support patients receiving the best possible care.
“XpertPatient is a comprehensive website that provides easy to read materials on a variety of cancer diagnosis including treatment options, financial resources, and side effect management. The “Compare My Treatment Options Now” tool is a wonderful resource for patients to better understand their options and have more informed, educated discussions with their physicians.”
A seasoned medical oncologist with experience working in both community practice and hospital settings spanning 2 different countries, Dr. Leonora leads our medical content team to deliver complex cancer-related content into easy to understand terms that resonate with our broad range of site visitors.
As a core member of our Customer Experience team, Leonora ensures we are always delivering an experience that is up to date as new cancer treatments are approved, medically accurate & 100% patient-centric.
If an annoying cyst on my hand hadn’t interfered with my normal daily routine, I might not have discovered that I had late-stage lung cancer. What was even more frightening was when my oncologist told me that the 5-year survival rate was at most 15%.
Well, it’s only now, after more than 8 years since my diagnosis, that I’m able to relax a bit and just live my life including to help launch XpertPatient.com. Creating a truly patient-centric experience has been one of the most incredible things I’ve done since my diagnosis. Knowing that my insights and experience are helping other cancer survivors through their journey is definitely rewarding.
A skilled Hematology/Oncology Nurse Practitioner at a leading US Cancer Center, Stefania serves as XpertPatient’s medical lead for all blood cancer related cancer center content (e.g, Leukemia, Multiple Myeloma). Collaborating with the Experience Team, Stefania leads diagnosis and treatment content development, resource identification and video selection for new patients and caregivers.
“XpertPatient is a comprehensive website that provides easy to understand information about diagnosis and treatment. As a provider, what I most like about it is that it empowers patients to take ownership of their care by becoming well-informed and being an active member of their care team.”
Dr. Feiler brings the XpertPatient Experience Team expertise and insights having been both a seasoned medical professional that successfully managed the needs of a highly diverse patient and caregiver population and a cancer caregiver.
Her in-practice and personal experiences have helped to break down complex medical terms into simple, easy to understand content, central to the success of the XpertPatient.com experience.
As an on-going advisor, Dr. Feiler guides content direction and ensures accuracy of language.
As XpertPatient’s CRO, my goal is to identify sponsors looking for a game-changing partner to drive business growth while positively impacting those on a cancer journey. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about building digital health media platforms that elevate health literacy and empower individuals to take charge of their well-being.
With experience leading companies including Healthline & Health Media Network, I have transformed emerging organizations into market leaders, providing people on their health journeys with access to trusted information.
Today, there is no greater urgency than assisting families in navigating cancer. I am thrilled to be part of the XpertPatient leadership team and committed to our mission of making a meaningful impact every day.
As the Strategic Partnership & Content Strategy Lead for XpertPatient, I am responsible for delivering a game changing experience trusted by new patients & caregivers, 100% endorsed by advocacy and a strategic partner to oncology brands working to reach & engage hard to reach audiences.
Before joining XpertPatient, I was the interim CMO at ArmourUp for Life, a not-for-profit foundation that helps cancer patients in underserved communities, improve patient outcomes throughout their health and wellness journey. Using storytelling to amplify Loriana’s powerful voice for advocacy we launched “STAGE FREE,” a podcast for cancer survivors and caregivers.
From my perspective, XpertPatient represents an untapped opportunity for the industry and the community it serves. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this exciting brand.
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