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Types of Cancer > Melanoma > Overview
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| What You Should Ask Your Physician about Melanoma |
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If you are worried that you have developed melanoma or if you have been recently diagnosed with melanoma, you will probably have a rush of questions running through your head. To make sure that you get answers to all the questions that are haunting you, you're going to want to focus and write the questions down so you have them prepared for your next doctor's appointment.
If you believe that you have a cancerous mole, you'll want to ask your doctor to examine the area and you will need to ask them what changes you should be looking for in regards to changes in pigment and shape. If the mole is indeed cancerous, you will want to ask what course of treatment is recommended and how soon the mole should be removed.
If you haven't had a biopsy and the doctor feels one is necessary, you'll want to know what type of biopsy your physician will be performing. There are different types of skin biopsies that are performed, and what type of biopsy you are being given will determine how invasive the procedure will be. When your test results come back, you'll want to find out exactly what they mean. Ask your doctor what your staging results are and what they mean to you.
If you have been positively diagnosed with melanoma, you will want to ask your doctor questions pertaining to the specifics of your condition. You'll want to ask whether or not the cancer has spread through the skin, how far it has spread and how thick your melanoma is. You'll also need to know if the cancer has spread to the bloodstream or the lymph vessels. If your doctor is not yet sure if this has happened, you'll want to know what further testing will need to be performed.
Once you understand the details regarding the specifics of your condition, you'll want to ask questions pertaining to the treatment of your condition. Ask the doctor what treatment method he or she recommends. Will the cancer need to be surgically removed? Will chemotherapy or radiation therapy be necessary? You'll also want to find out what your doctor wants you to do in order to prepare for treatment, how long your he or she expects your treatment to last, and whether or not you should prepare for any serious side effects.
Also make sure that you ask your doctor about the prognosis of your condition. What are your chances of a successful recovery and what are your chances of the cancer recurring after treatment has been successful? Don't forget to write down any questions that pop into your head in the days prior to your doctor's appointment. This will help you remember the questions at your appointment. Knowing what to prepare for and what to expect will help keep you focused on what needs to be done to beat the condition.
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| Author: | Robert Dale, Certified Medical Writer |
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| Reviewer: | Jiade Jay Lu, M.D.
Diplomate, American Board of Radiology (Radiation Oncology) |
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| Publish Date: November 6, 2004 |
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