Desmoplastic Melanoma

Desmoplastic melanoma is a relatively uncommon type of skin cancer. It represents less than two percent of all the melanomas that are diagnosed. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't know about it. It is frequently misdiagnosed because this kind of cancer is less well known than others. This is actually very dangerous because this type of tumor requires special care to remove it completely.

Identifying Desmoplastic Melanoma

This kind of melanoma is divided into two types:

• The first is a pure desmoplastic Melanoma
• The second is a mixed type. That means it includes features that you would expect in a normal melanoma, in addition to desmoplastic areas.

Just what is a desmoplastic area?

It's one with a lot of fibrous or connective tissue in it. This kind of tumor looks just the same as a regular one on the surface, but it's different underneath. Most people don't find out about this difference until they've had a biopsy. A fibrotic tumor might be the case if the biopsied skin feels gritty or hard,. These tumors are harder to get rid of than normal ones and can be very dangerous if they are not identified correctly.

This kind of tumor might look like a nodule or bump in the skin. It's often colorless or pinkish. These tumors generally show up on the skin of people who have had a lot of sun exposure, just like other kinds of skin cancer. Skin that has been damaged by the sun is at the most risk. This is particularly true if you had a burn a long time ago.

Men get desmoplastic tumors more often than women, but women are not exempt.

How Desmoplastic Tumors Affect Melanoma Survival Rates

Tumors of this kind can be harder to remove than regular skin cancer. This is why it's so important for the surgeon to use a wide margin when getting rid of them. Otherwise, the leftover pieces of the tumor might spread to other parts of the body.

Melanoma survival rates for patients with cancer that has spread to the lungs, liver, brain and other parts are much lower. If a wide margin is used when the tumor is removed, the chances of surviving are much higher.

But taking a wider margin around the tumor may increase the amount of scarring that you'll have to deal with. Fortunately, advanced surgical techniques can be used to help reduce this. There are also some other treatments that doctors can use to make sure the cancer won't come back.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a special kind of biopsy. It is used to make sure that the cancer has not spread. It can help detect spreading cancer, even in the earliest melanoma stages. This biopsy isn't very likely to come with a complication. It's also helpful in determining which of the melanoma stages your tumor is in.

If a skin cancer is more than one millimeter thick, there's a good chance that your doctor will use this method. Deeper skin cancers are usually more serious.

Radiation therapy needs to be used when it's not possible to remove the tumor with a wide margin. This helps increase melanoma survival rates for people who have tumors in an area that's hard to treat. Many skin cancers appear on the face and head - areas that are not easy to perform surgery on. Radiation is also used if the melanoma comes back in the same spot.

After Surgery

People who have had melanoma of any kind can't just forget about it after the tumor has been removed. You need regular follow up examinations, especially if the tumor was desmoplastic. Most people need to have an examination every two to three months in the first two years after diagnosis,. That's because seventy-five percent of recurring cases happen during this time.

Anyone who has had melanoma is at an increased risk for developing a second one later in life. Performing self examinations, as well as seeing your doctor regularly, can help you detect them early. If any new feature appears on your skin such as:

• a dark spot
• a bump
• or an area that looks like a scar...you should see a doctor about it

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