[Fat Bear Science Popularization] Friends who have moles around you, if you have the following 5 symptoms, you need to be alert to malignant melanoma!

Everyone has moles on their body.

Some people think it is not beautiful

Some people believe that it can bring good luck and make them rich.

A few years ago, the movie "If You Are the One"

Let everyone have a new understanding of moles

A cancer that looks like a mole

Melanoma has come into everyone's attention.

Just from the outside

Moles and melanomas are very similar

Ordinary people may find it difficult to distinguish if they don't observe carefully.

Today, let’s talk about moles and melanoma.

Expert Profile

■

Li Yongsheng

Director of the Department of Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Chongqing University, Director of the Teaching and Research Section, Chief Physician, Professor, Doctor of Medicine, Postdoctoral Fellow and Doctoral Supervisor at Harvard Medical School.

Focusing on the research of lipid metabolism and tumor immunity, he excels in the precise diagnosis and treatment of rare malignant tumors, difficult malignant tumors, digestive system tumors, respiratory system tumors, genitourinary system tumors, bone and soft tissue tumors, etc. He has profound attainments in molecular targeted therapy, tumor metabolism and immunotherapy, palliative care, and adverse reaction control.

Clinic hours: Wednesday morning 8:00-12:00 (specialist clinic for tumors, rare diseases and difficult diseases)

■

Yang Yan

Attending physician of Department of Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Chongqing University.

He is good at the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of diseases such as lung cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer, and esophageal cancer.

What is malignant melanoma?

Malignant melanoma is a highly malignant tumor that mostly occurs in the skin. It can also be seen at the junction of the skin and mucosa, the choroid and the pia mater. It ranks third among malignant skin tumors (accounting for 6.8% to 20%). Its incidence has been gradually increasing in the past few decades and has become the leading fatal disease of the skin.

Who are the most susceptible groups?

Malignant melanoma is more common in adults and the elderly over 30 years old, and is rare in children. Malignant melanoma originating from melanocytes is more common in the elderly, grows slowly, and is less malignant; those originating from nevus cells are more common in young people, grow rapidly, are more malignant, and are prone to early metastasis.

Where does malignant melanoma usually occur?

The most common sites of melanoma in my country are acrofacial melanoma, accounting for 41.8%, i.e. soles, toes, fingertips, fingernails, toenails or under the nails, etc. The second most common sites are mucosal melanoma, accounting for 22.6%, i.e. rectum, anus, vulva, eyes, mouth and nasopharynx, etc.

What conditions can cause malignant melanoma?

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays is one of the clear causes of skin melanoma. Secondly, long-term chronic stimulation, such as burns, infections, knife cuts, rope strangulation, salt pickling, laser and freezing, etc., may also be related to its occurrence.

What are the symptoms of malignant melanoma?

Generally speaking, the symptoms of melanoma are related to the age of onset. Young patients generally present with itching, color changes and enlarged boundaries of the lesions, while elderly patients generally present with ulcers on the lesions, which usually indicate a poor prognosis. Generally, if a small mole gradually grows in size, becomes darker in pigment, has an inflammatory reaction around it, and the pigment spreads to the surrounding normal skin or appears as a small black dot like a satellite,

In addition, if the mole ulcerates and bleeds, is frequently infected, or becomes itchy and painful, it should also be taken seriously.

How is malignant melanoma diagnosed?

Typical clinical manifestations and physical examination signs are commonly used methods for diagnosing melanoma; pathological examination is the final standard for determining the diagnosis and even staging of melanoma.

Complete excisional biopsy is recommended for suspicious pigmented nevi. During excision, it is important to understand whether the edge and base of the mass are cleanly removed. For lesions on the face, palms, soles, ears, fingers, toes, or under the nails, or large lesions that cannot be completely removed, puncture biopsy or full-thickness skin lesion excision can be performed.

Imaging examinations include regional lymph node (neck, axilla, groin, popliteal fossa) ultrasound, chest X-ray or CT, abdominal and pelvic ultrasound, CT or MRI, whole body bone scan and head examination. Whole body PET-CT examination can also be performed to detect asymptomatic metastatic lesions at an early stage.

How is malignant melanoma treated?

Melanoma is the most malignant type of skin tumor. In the early stages, satellite lesions, ulcers that repeatedly fail to heal, and regional lymph node metastases may appear. In the late stages, it can metastasize through the blood to important organs such as the lungs, liver, bones, and brain.

If you find that one half of the skin mole is asymmetrical with the other half, does not have a smooth outline like a normal mole, has a dirty black color, the pigment spot is obviously enlarged, the mole is itchy, there is local ulceration and bleeding, and the black mass of the nails (toes) is cracked, it is recommended to go to a regular hospital for examination and treatment as soon as possible;

For those with a family history of melanoma, it is even more important to seek medical attention as soon as possible if similar cases are found. Early lesions that have not metastasized should be surgically excised. If it is a malignant melanoma at the tip of a finger (toe), finger (toe) amputation can be used.

For patients with extensive metastasis, combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be used. Biochemotherapy and molecular targeted therapy have great prospects. In short, regular examinations and early attention may lead to early detection and a significant increase in the cure rate.

How to prevent malignant melanoma?

Malignant melanoma can be prevented mainly by avoiding triggers. Pay attention to sun protection in daily life, avoid going out in strong sunlight, and wear a hat and sun-protective clothing when going out. For those with many skin moles, regular checkups are required every year, and avoid scratching. If surface ulcers or growths occur, seek medical attention in a timely manner. Treat systemic diseases such as xeroderma pigmentosum, autoimmune diseases, skin cancer, etc. as soon as possible to prevent the disease from progressing and leading to malignant melanoma.

How to distinguish malignant melanoma from moles?

Moles are medically called nevus cells or melanocytic nevus, which are skin manifestations caused by the increase of melanocytes in the epidermis and dermis. We can distinguish pigmented nevus from melanoma by the shape, size, color, and development speed of the nevus.

Ordinary moles are symmetrical on both sides.

Malignant melanomas are often irregular in shape and asymmetrical on both sides.

The edges of ordinary moles are smooth and clearly demarcated from the surrounding skin.

Malignant melanoma has irregular edges and notches.

Sawtooth-like changes.

The color of common moles is mostly black, brown, and tan

Malignant melanoma often appears on the basis of the color of ordinary moles.

Mixed with multiple colors, or within a few months

The color suddenly darkens, turns black, turns blue, or begins to fade.

Ordinary moles are usually smaller than 5 mm

Malignant melanoma larger than 6 mm in diameter

Common moles tend to grow slowly or remain unchanged for many years.

Malignant melanoma grows quickly and increases in size rapidly in a short period of time.

Inflammatory reactions in the surrounding skin, such as bleeding

Ulcers, itching, etc.

★

Melanoma clinic

Multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment model for melanoma

★

The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Chongqing University was the first in the region to open a specialized melanoma clinic and a multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment model for melanoma (MDT for short), organically integrating multidisciplinary resources, effectively avoiding the limitations of single disciplines and physicians, making treatment precise and individualized, achieving full-process management of the disease, and thus maximizing clinical benefits.

The Melanoma MDT is a team of experts from the Department of Oncology, Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, Department of Palliative Care, Department of Biological Immunotherapy, Tumor Radiotherapy Center, Head and Neck Tumor Center, Gynecological Tumor Center, Phase I Ward, Department of Imaging, Department of Pathology, Department of Ultrasound Medicine, and Department of Nuclear Medicine. For the disease of melanoma, through regular consultations, they propose the best diagnosis and treatment plan suitable for patients, which is then jointly implemented by relevant disciplines or multiple disciplines. Post-treatment feedback evaluation and plan optimization are regularly conducted as a team, and the existing diagnosis and treatment model is constantly revised to achieve the best treatment model.

The hospital opens a specialized melanoma clinic every Monday morning and every Friday afternoon, and a multidisciplinary joint diagnosis and treatment clinic for melanoma every Monday afternoon.

Melanoma Clinic

time

Every Monday morning 08:00-12:00

Every Friday afternoon 13:30-16:30

Place

Room 225, 2nd Floor, Outpatient Building, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Chongqing University

Melanoma multidisciplinary team consultation (MDT)

time

Every Monday at 14:30

Place

Room 120, Area B, 1F, Outpatient Building

Make an appointment

WeChat Official Account

Follow the WeChat official account of "Chongqing University Affiliated Cancer Hospital" - Mobile Hospital - Appointment Registration - Department of Oncology - Melanoma Clinic.

Official Website

Official website of the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Chongqing University - Appointment Registration - Department of Oncology - Melanoma Clinic

Website: https://www.cqch.cn/

Telephone reservation

023-65301682

On-site reservation

Register through the manual registration window or self-service registration machine in the outpatient hall.

Text/Fat Bear Photos/Partially from the Internet (Please contact us to delete if there is any infringement) Review/Department of Oncology

Member of China Medical We-Media Alliance

Science Popularization China Co-construction Base

Chongqing Science Popularization Base/Chongqing Health Promotion Hospital

Chongqing Science and Technology Communication and Popularization Project

National Health Commission National Basic Public Health Service Health Literacy Project