Can a doctor tell if you have melanoma?

If you have an abnormal area on your skin that might be cancer, your doctor will examine it and might do tests to find out if it is melanoma, another type of skin cancer, or some other skin condition. If melanoma is found, other tests may be done to find out if it has spread to other areas of the body.

Can you have melanoma for 3 years and not know?

How long can you have melanoma and not know it? It depends on the type of melanoma. For example, nodular melanoma grows rapidly over a matter of weeks, while a radial melanoma can slowly spread over the span of a decade. Like a cavity, a melanoma may grow for years before producing any significant symptoms.

What happens to a person’s body if skin cancer is not diagnosed early?

However, left untreated, BCCs can grow deeper into the skin and damage surrounding skin, tissue, and bone. Occasionally, a BCC can become aggressive, spreading to other parts of the body and even becoming life threatening.

Does a melanoma suddenly appear?

Melanoma may suddenly appear without warning, but can also develop from or near an existing mole. It can occur anywhere on the body, but is most common on the upper back, torso, lower legs, head, and neck.

What is considered early detection of melanoma?

Early melanomas often have uneven borders. They may even have scalloped or notched edges. Common moles are usually a single shade of brown or black. Early melanomas are often varied shades of brown, tan or black.

Can a doctor tell if a mole is cancerous just by looking at it?

A visual check of your skin only finds moles that may be cancer. It can’t tell you for sure that you have it. The only way to diagnose the condition is with a test called a biopsy.

What are symptoms of melanoma Besides moles?

Other melanoma warning signs may include:

• Sores that don’t heal.
• Pigment, redness or swelling that spreads outside the border of a spot to the surrounding skin.
• Itchiness, tenderness or pain.
• Changes in texture, or scales, oozing or bleeding from an existing mole.

How long can you live with melanoma untreated?

Survival for all stages of melanoma almost all people (almost 100\%) will survive their melanoma for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed. around 90 out of every 100 people (around 90\%) will survive their melanoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis.

What does a melanoma look like when it first appears?

Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the shape, color, size, or feel of an existing mole. However, melanoma may also appear as a new mole. People should tell their doctor if they notice any changes on the skin.

Should I talk to my doctor about melanoma symptoms?

Most melanomas are brought to a doctor’s attention because of signs or symptoms a person is having. If you have an abnormal area that might be skin cancer, your doctor will examine it and might do tests to find out if it is melanoma, another type of skin cancer, or some other skin condition.

What happens during a skin exam for melanoma?

The doctor will ask you questions about when the spot on your skin first showed up and if it has changed in size or the way it looks. The rest of your skin will be checked. During the exam your doctor will check the size, shape, color and texture of any skin changes. If signs are pointing to melanoma, more tests will be done.

Can you have melanoma without a spot on your skin?

In still other cases, melanoma may be found somewhere in the body without ever finding a spot on the skin. This may be because some skin lesions go away on their own (without any treatment) after some of their cells have spread to other parts of the body.

Can people who have melanoma still get other cancers?

People who’ve had melanoma can still get other cancers. In fact, melanoma survivors are at higher risk for getting some other types of cancer: Another skin cancer, including melanoma (this is different from the first cancer coming back)