Melanoma

If your doctor finds a suspicious mole on your skin, Lincoln Surgical can surgically remove it.

The 3 types of skin cancer that are most common are melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Of these, melanoma is the most serious and should be treated as soon as possible.

​The type of surgical therapy needed depends on the size and the depth of the melanoma in your skin. 

Melanoma is an invasive skin cancer, so it must be removed with a margin of your normal tissue to make sure all the disease has been removed. Sometimes a nearby lymph node will need to be biopsied. The Lincoln Surgical general surgery team is well equipped to handle melanomas on any other part of the body.

Melanoma ​Symptoms

A mole that is suspicious for melanoma or other skin cancer may be any of the following: 

  • ​​A growing mole
  • Any odd looking moles
  • Strange shapes, uneven shapes, and different colors

​Dangers

Untreated melanomas can spread to the lymph nodes or other organs, making them more difficult to treat. If it's not treated, melanoma can result in death.

Causes

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds may be the leading cause of melanomas. However, there are also genetic and environmental risk factors (fair skin, history of sunburns, number of moles, family history).

​Surgical Treatment

Surgery for melanoma can be performed at Memorial Hospital or St. Elizabeth's Hospital. Each surgery is unique based on the size and depth of the melanoma.