Can melanoma be cured if it is excised early?

Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
Updated on May 03, 2025
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For patients with early-stage melanoma, if complete excision is achieved after surgical removal, some patients can be cured. Melanoma originates from melanocytes, which are malignant tumors. Melanocytes are distributed throughout the body, hence melanoma can occur in multiple parts of the body, primarily in the skin and mucous membranes, accounting for about 70% of cases. For early-stage melanoma, the main treatment method is still surgical excision. For patients with deeper melanoma infiltration, regional lymph node dissection is also necessary. After radical excision, treatments such as immunotherapy can be administered to consolidate the effects of the therapy, and some of the patients who complete these treatments can be cured.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
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Melanoma stage IV is the fourth stage.

Melanoma stage IV refers to the fourth stage of melanoma, where IV represents the Roman numeral for 4. Stage IV melanoma means that the melanoma is no longer confined to the local lesion but has metastasized to distant organs. The most common locations for melanoma include the skin and mucous membranes, with typical metastatic sites including the lungs, brain, liver, etc. Once diagnosed as stage IV, there are no indications for surgical treatment. Treatment primarily involves a comprehensive approach combining chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
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How to diagnose melanoma

For the judgment of melanoma as a malignant tumor, it cannot solely rely on clinical experience. Instead, the skin lesion should undergo surgical excision. During the surgery, freezing can be scheduled, and the results of the freezing report will determine the scope of the surgery. The final diagnosis still depends on the paraffin section. The diagnostic gold standard is based on the pathological results, and only a pathology examination can determine whether the lesion is a malignant melanoma. Diagnosing such diseases requires extreme caution due to their high malignancy and ease of metastasis, which can endanger life. Standardized surgical excision is necessary, supplemented by chemotherapy and other methods.

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Written by He Da Wei
Dermatology
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Is melanoma flat or raised?

Melanoma generally is not flat, also known as malignant melanoma, which is a highly malignant cancer originating from melanocytes, commonly occurring in the skin. Men over the age of 60 are a high-risk group, with the most commonly affected areas being the lower limbs and feet, followed by the trunk, head and neck, or upper limbs. Symptoms mainly include rapidly growing melanotic nodules. Initially, normal skin becomes heavily pigmented, or pigmented moles darken and increase in pigment. The skin lesions continually enlarge and harden, accompanied by itching and pain. The lesions of melanoma may be raised, patchy, or nodular, and some may even resemble cauliflower.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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Can melanoma be excised?

Melanoma, also known as malignant melanoma, generally appears on the skin or in areas such as mucous membranes and the choroid of the eye. It is the most malignant type of skin tumor and is prone to distant metastases. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in the initial stages of the disease. If a diagnosis of melanoma is confirmed at a formal hospital, it is recommended that patients undergo a complete excision biopsy of the lesion. If the lesion is too large to be removed, a superficial skin lesion theft or punch biopsy may also be considered.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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How to alleviate vomiting from melanoma

Melanoma is one of the malignant tumors, and if one contracts this disease, it is important to treat melanoma promptly as symptoms are not very pronounced in the early stages. In advanced stages, symptoms such as nausea and vomiting may occur, possibly due to irritation of the stomach. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy can all have side effects. It is also possible that the melanoma has metastasized, causing a feeling of vomiting. It is recommended that patients take antiemetic medication to treat this, and in terms of diet, eat foods that are beneficial for the spleen and stomach, such as coix seed, yam, millet, red dates, and black fungus, all of which can help alleviate discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract.