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Expert Skin Cancer Doctors

Stuart R. Lessin, MD, Director, Dermatology of our Cutaneous Oncology Program, leads the multi-specialty melanoma team at Philadelphia's Fox Chase Cancer Center. This group of expert skin cancer doctors evaluates and treats patients with melanoma and other types of skin cancers. Melanoma is generally diagnosed through a biopsy (a sample of skin is removed and evaluated in a lab to learn if it is cancerous).

Determining if the Melanoma has Spread

If cancer is detected through a biopsy, the next step is to see if the skin cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Rather than removing all the lymph nodes near the tumor site, Fox Chase surgeons offer a procedure called sentinel node biopsy. In this procedure, only the lymph nodes most likely to contain skin cancer are removed. If no cancer cells are detected in the sentinal lymph node, then the cancer has probably not spread.

Skin cancer doctors at Fox Chase are using the technique for melanoma patients with either intermediate or deep tumors. Those with lymph-node involvement can promptly receive additional therapy to increase their chances for survival.

Early-Stage Melanoma

Patients with early-stage melanoma are usually treated with surgery to remove the cancer. A sentinel node biopsy may be performed as well.

Advanced Disease

Treatment for patients with advanced melanoma (that has spread to other parts of the body) may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, interferon therapy, biologic/immunotherapy and/or innovative therapies using new drugs to fight the disease. Interferon is a protein produced in your body to help fight disease. Clinical trials have proven that interferon also can help stop the growth and spread of cancer cells.

At Fox Chase, your melanoma treatment plan is tailored for you by a team of skin cancer doctors who specialize in melanoma treatment.

Melanoma Symptoms

There are 4 types of melanoma--each with its own set of symptoms:

• Superficial spreading melanoma: small lesion with irregular border and brown, red, white, blue or blue-black spots on trunk or limbs
• Nodular melanoma: shiny, firm, dome-shaped brown, black or pink bumps anywhere on skin
• Acral lentiginous melanoma: irregular brown to black flat lesions on palms, soles, tips of fingers or toes, or mucous membranes; can also be a brown or black streak under a finger or toenail
• Lentigo maligna melanoma: large brownish irregular spot with darker speckles on skin overexposed to sun, particularly the face or arms

Clinical Trials for Melanoma

An array of clinical trials for melanoma are available at Fox Chase Cancer Center, including:

• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group's vaccine and combination therapy melanoma trials
• Innovative ongoing targeted therapy trials

A number of clinical studies are available to patients with various stages of melanoma. Some of these studies evaluate several vaccines for treating patients with melanoma. New drug trials also are available to patients who have widespread disease.

For more information about melanoma treatment at Fox Chase Cancer Center or to make an appointment, call 1-888-FOX CHASE (1-888-369-2427).