Understanding Melanoma: Causes, Symptoms, and Risk Factors

Melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to achieving the best outcome. Dr. Halden Ford and Dr. Joseph Blackmon at Paducah Dermatology offer a wide range of dermatology services, including diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. They have several convenient office locations to help patients who suspect they have melanoma in Paducah, Murray, Benton, KY, and Martin, TN.

What You Need to Know about Melanoma

Melanoma forms within melanocytes, the skin cells responsible for skin color. Melanoma develops due to excessive exposure to the sun. You are at increased risk of developing melanoma if you:

• Have fair skin and freckles
• Sunburn easily and severely
• Have a family history of melanoma

One of the best ways to find melanoma early is knowing what to look for. Most cases of melanoma begin with a mole. You will want to schedule an appointment with our doctors in Paducah and Benton, KY, or Martin, TN, to discuss melanoma if you have a mole with these signs:

• Large, with a diameter greater than 6 millimeters
• Irregular, with an asymmetrical shape
• Poorly defined, with ragged borders
• Changing in size, color, or shape
• Itchy, bleeding, or oozing

Diagnosing and Treating Melanoma

If we suspect your mole could be cancerous, we will perform a biopsy to help with diagnosis. Your dermatologist will remove a small sample of tissue and submit it for a biopsy. The tissue is examined under a microscope to determine if cancerous cells are present and what type of skin cancer you have.

Your dermatologist has several effective ways to treat melanoma and may recommend a combination of:

• Surgical excision to remove the cancerous cells
• Radiation therapy to kill cancerous cells
• Chemotherapy in combination with surgery and radiation to eliminate cancerous tissue

Remember that you can do a lot to prevent melanoma. Always wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, or SPF 50 or higher if you have fair skin and sunburn easily.

Want to Know More about Melanoma?

Our dermatologists can help patients who suspect they have melanoma in Paducah or Benton, KY, or Martin, TN. To find out more about the causes, symptoms, and risk factors for this type of skin cancer, call Dr. Ford and Dr. Blackmon at Paducah Dermatology. You can reach them in Paducah, KY, by calling (270) 444-8477; Murray, KY, by calling (270) 761-8477; Benton, KY, by calling (270) 444-8477; or Martin, TN, by calling (731) 261-8920. Schedule an appointment today!