What is Melanoma?

Melanoma is cancer that develops initially in the melanocytes. This type of cancer is also known as cutaneous melanoma or malignant melanoma. A majority of melanoma cells continue to produce melanin and may appear tan, pink, or white.

Melanomas can start anywhere on the skin. However, there is a higher probability of this cancer starting on the trunk (back and chest) in men and on the legs in women. Other common locations include the face and neck. Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides skin care treatments to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and surrounding communities in this area of the Midwest.

Where does Melanoma Occur?

Heavily pigmented skin reduces the risk of developing melanoma in the more common locations such as back, chest or legs. However, anyone can develop melanoma on the soles of the feet, palms of the hand, and beneath the nails. Melanomas in these locations are more commonly found in African Americans than in Caucasians.

Melanoma can also develop in other parts of the body such as the mouth, eyes, genitals, and anal area. However, these are much less frequent than the skin melanoma. Melanoma occurs less frequently than squamous cell and basal skin cancers. But melanoma is more dangerous as it has a high likelihood of spreading to other body parts, if not detected early.

Stages of Melanoma

The stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis determines its spread and the type of treatment that is suitable to address it.

A particular method of staging melanoma cancer classifies it in 5 stages ranging from 0 to 4.

Stage 0

Cancer’s location is only in the uppermost skin layer. Melanoma in situ is another name for this stage.

Stage 1

Cancer’s thickness is up to 2 mm. It has not yet spread to other sites or the lymph nodes. It may or may not be ulcerated.

Stage 2

Cancer’s thickness is at least 1.01 mm, and may go up to 4 mm. It may or may not be ulcerated. Cancer has not yet spread to other sites or the lymph nodes.

Stage 3

Cancer has spread further to one or more lymph nodes or adjacent lymphatic channels. However, it has not spread to distant locations.

Stage 4

Cancer has spread to lymph nodes or organs that are far off such as the liver, lungs, or brain.

Forms of Melanoma

Different forms of melanomas include:

Superficial Spreading Melanoma

This is a common type of melanoma. It usually develops on the limbs or trunk. The cells grow gradually at first. However, they later spread rapidly across the skin’s surface.

Nodular Trunk Melanoma

This is the second most commonly occurring melanoma. It typically develops on the neck, trunk, or head. It has a tendency to spread faster than other types of melanomas.

Lentigo Maligna Melanoma

This is a less commonly occurring form of melanoma. This type of melanoma has a tendency to affect older individuals specifically in parts of the body that have been exposed to the sun for many years.

Acral Lentiginous Melanoma

This type of melanoma is the rarest. It typically develops on the soles of the feet, palms of the hands, or beneath the nails.

Judicious board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other towns and cities in this part of the fruited plain for skin care treatments.

If you would like to learn more about procedures and treatments at Metro East Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jamie L. McGinness please contact us here or call (618) 622-SKIN (7546)

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.

Skin Cancer Screening

Cancer screening refers to looking for potential signs of cancer before the individual shows any symptoms. Skin cancer screening can help in early-stage cancer detection. It is easier to treat cancer or abnormal tissue if it is detected early.

Cancer may have already begun to spread by the time the symptoms manifest themselves externally. Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides skin cancer screening to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and surrounding communities and towns in this region of the country.

Early Skin Cancer Detection

Although research studies have not been conducted to determine the effectiveness of regular melanoma screening for individuals with no familial history of skin cancer, it is generally considered to be a beneficial preventive approach. Routine skin examinations can help to identify skin cancer in its earliest stage when it is the easiest to address.

A majority of the cases of squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma initially appear as changes in the skin. The patient or the physician will be able to note these changes. Subsequently, a dermatologist verifies it as skin cancer after a skin assessment and biopsy. Squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas can mostly be treated without any specific screening process.

A family history of skin cancer is a risk for melanoma. Furthermore, there is substantial evidence that the risk associated with developing melanoma is heightened for people with multiple common moles or atypical moles.

An atypical mole which is also known as dysplastic nevi has an irregular outline, varies in color, or is asymmetrical implying that if it were to be cut into two parts, the halves would not appear identical.

High-Risk Candidates for Skin Cancer Screening

Dermatologists suggest lifetime dermatologic surveillance for patients with a medical history of melanoma. Additionally, dermatologists recommend that people, who meet any of the criteria below as determined during routine care, should be evaluated for a skin cancer screening:

• Patients who have over 50 moles on their bodies.
• The presence of multiple actinic keratoses or precancerous growths which are pink to grey hued patches of skin in areas that are exposed to the sun.
• The presence of many atypical moles.
• Men and women with light complexions over the age of 65.
• Significant history of sunburn and sun exposure.
• A family history of melanoma occurring in two or more blood relatives.

Other people that do not display these specific risk attributes may discuss the efficacy of an annual exam with their dermatologist and jointly establish whether such an exam is warranted.

Consult with your physician if your barber or hairdresser has seen a suspect lesion in your scalp or beneath your beard, or if you identify any of the below-mentioned symptoms during a self-exam:

• A suspicious alteration in a pre-existent skin growth
• A suspect change in a pre-existent spot or mole
• A sore that does not heal in two weeks

Judicious board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other neighborhoods and suburbs in this area of the amazing Midwest for skin cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

If you would like to learn more about procedures and treatments at Metro East Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jamie L. McGinness please contact us here or call (618) 622-SKIN (7546)

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.

Moles & Growths Removal And Treatments

While skin growths can be non-cancerous, they can lead to aesthetic issues and even cause functional problems and pain. In case a growth is malignant, its removal promptly is crucial for the patient’s well-being.

Excisional surgery is an effective and safe technique to eliminate unwanted growth. These growths could be either malignant or benign.

During the pre-op consultation, the dermatologist will answer all questions about the surgery regarding unwanted growths and moles to enable them to make a well-informed choice. Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides mole and growth removal procedures to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and surrounding locations.

Types of Excisional Surgeries

A patient may consider skin lesion or growth removal depending on its location and nature of the growth. Aesthetic distress is a valid reason for growth removal. In a majority of cases, abnormal skin lesions and growths can be removed under the effect of local anesthesia. This surgery is usually an outpatient procedure.

Shave Removal

The surgeon can recommend a shave removal if the patient has a raised growth such as elevated moles. The surgeon will inject a local anesthetic under the growth to reduce discomfort. Then they will excise the growth using a highly sharp razor along the surface of the skin. The cut is insignificant with no need for sutures. The surgical site may experience slight scarring and redness.

Snip Excision

The surgeon may suggest a snip excision or scissor excision if the lesion is raised such as in the case of skin tags. The surgeon will administer a local anesthetic before firmly securing the growth with forceps and lightly pull it away from the body.

Then they will use a set of curved scissors to snip away the growth delicately. The surgeon will cut both around and under the growth. This procedure does not warrant sutures, and the scarring is insignificant.

Full Excision

The surgeon will recommend a full excision procedure in case the growth has gone deep into the dermis levels, or the tumor is cancerous. This procedure typically warrants local anesthesia. The surgeon will first place an elliptical incision surrounding the lesion that penetrates the fatty tissue beneath the growth to excise it entirely.

The surgeon will usually use a margin of healthy tissue surrounding the edges of the growth. Subsequently, a pathological assessment of the excised tissue will be conducted to establish whether all the abnormal cells have been eliminated. The recovery duration for a full excision varies between patients dependent on the location and size of the lesion.

Excising a melanoma in pre-metastatic stages is typically an effective method to destroy the malignant cells. Only a well-qualified and highly trained surgeon and dermatologist should perform this surgical procedure. Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and nearby areas.

Recovery

Moles and growth removal procedures may often require minimal to no downtime. Patients should follow the surgeon’s guidelines to protect the wound against infection for a safe and easy recovery.

If you would like to learn more about procedures and treatments at Metro East Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jamie L. McGinness please contact us here or call (618) 622-SKIN (7546)

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.

Reconstructive Surgery After Skin Cancer

Reconstructive surgery following skin cancer provides a method to restore the aesthetic appearance and functionality that may have been compromised in the course of removal of non-cancerous and canc erous growths. Some patients may require extensive reconstruction procedures.

This depends on factors such as the depth and location of the growth that has been taken out, the quantity of the skin eliminated to ensure full removal, and the availability (or lack thereof) of adjacent skin to close the defect (especially in areas around the ears or nose).

In certain instances, the patient may require flaps, skin grafting, or other reconstructive procedures to recreate the natural appearance and features of a patient. Reliable board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides reconstructive surgery following skin cancer to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and surrounding locations in the glorious Midwest.

When are Reconstructive Procedures Appropriate?

A patient may require a reconstructive procedure if they have had a non-cancerous or cancerous lesion removed. This could cause a surgical defect requiring a reconstructive procedure to address the wound.

The patient may need reconstructive surgery whether the growth was eliminated through Mohs surgery or another procedure such as an excisional surgery. In certain cases, the surgical wound is left to heal without intervention. In many cases, the patient only needs a straight line of sutures.  

Some areas experience lesion removal with little tissue surrounding them, such as areas of the face. In such cases, it can be challenging to address the wound side to side via a straight line. These cases may warrant the use of other techniques such as flaps, skin grafting, or other reconstructive procedures to rebuild area with the surgical defect.

Alternatives for Post-Mohs Reconstruction

There is no single technique or formula to perform reconstructive surgery after a Mohs removal procedure. This is because the amount, areas, and types of tissues vary between patients.

However, some techniques that are used commonly are:

• Bone Grafting: The bone is typically taken from the skull area and reshaped to be placed on the site of the excision.
• Flap Techniques: This technique is most commonly used for facial reconstruction after skin cancer.
• Tissue Expansion: In a small number of patients, tissue expanders are utilized.
• Cartilage Grafting: The standard donor location for cartilage in the ear. However, the rib cage can also be used.
• Skin Grafts: Although infrequent, skin grafts are also used for facial reconstructive procedures.

After Post-Mohs Reconstructive Surgery

It is vital to understand that in about 15 percent of patients, the reconstruction surgery after skin cancer excision has to be conducted in at least two phases. This occurs when specific flap techniques are engaged. The surgeon creates and repositions the flap in the initial stage. Subsequently, the surgeon separates or “sections” the flap from the original area and blood supply.

After the patient recovers and the blood supply to the wound is adequately established, the surgeon may perform another procedure to complete the reconstructive surgery. Other than flap technique surgery, various types of reconstructive procedures may require additional surgeries to achieve the desired outcomes.

Prudent board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other towns and suburbs in this section of the nation.

If you would like to learn more about procedures and treatments at Metro East Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jamie L. McGinness please contact us here or call (618) 622-SKIN (7546)

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.