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 Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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Melanoma check what items

If patients suspect that they have melanoma, they must go to a qualified hospital for examination. The diagnosis of melanoma mainly relies on visual inspection of colored moles that vary in color and shape, which can be directly observed with the eye. Also, if previously existing moles have enlarged or changed shape recently, these are signs that we need to pay attention to. If patients are suspected of having melanoma after a diagnosis, it is recommended to perform a complete excisional biopsy of the lesion, followed by a pathological examination after the surgery.

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Written by Zhu Rui
Oncology
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Is melanoma easy to get?

Melanoma is not easy to contract, with relatively low incidence and mortality rates. Melanoma is a tumor derived from the malignant transformation of melanocytes, highly malignant, often occurring in the skin but also in mucous membranes, the choroid of the eye, the pia mater, and other various parts and tissues. In the Chinese population, it commonly appears on the extremities of the skin, such as the sole of the foot, toes, fingertips, and under the nails. According to global cancer statistics from last year, melanoma accounts for 1.6% of all new cancer cases. In China, the incidence and mortality rates of cutaneous melanoma are relatively low, with about one case per 300,000 people. In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the incidence of melanoma, which needs to be monitored carefully.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
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Can melanoma be cured if it is excised early?

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 Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
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Is melanoma flat or raised?

Melanoma is generally raised and does not have a fixed shape. In the early stages of local growth, melanoma appears flat. As the tumor grows and proliferates, some protrusions may occur, but protrusions should not be equated with malignancy. If a previously flat mole suddenly becomes raised, one should be vigilant about the possibility of malignancy. However, a raised mole is not necessarily melanoma; there are some intradermal nevi or benign skin lesions, and other types of skin cancers can also manifest as raised changes. Therefore, if there are some melanocytic nevi on the skin that quickly develop symptoms such as ulceration, bleeding, pain, or itching, it is important to promptly visit a dermatology department at a standard hospital for an examination and, if necessary, surgical removal and pathological investigation.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
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Stage IV melanoma is what stage?

Melanoma stage IV is stage 4, where IV is the Roman numeral for 4. Stage IV melanoma means that the melanoma is no longer confined to the site of origin and has metastasized to distant organs. Melanoma commonly originates in the skin and mucous membranes, with the most common sites of metastasis being the lymph nodes and lungs. Once melanoma reaches stage 4, the opportunity for curative surgery is lost. Treatment primarily involves immunotherapy, targeted molecular therapy, etc., and is incurable.