Skin Cancer (Melanoma)
Information by Cancer Type

Each year, more than 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, nearly double the number diagnosed 30 years ago. Though basal cell and squamous cell are more prevalent skin cancers, both are easily treated if patients seek treatment within a reasonable time.

Melanoma occurs when pigment cells, generally found on the skin surface, begin multiplying out of control. Though uncommon, melanoma may also occur in the eye, the lymph nodes and intestinal tract and other areas where melanocytes (pigment cells) are found. The danger of melanoma is its ability to spread through the skin and into lymph nodes and organs. Physicians at Sutter Cancer Centers have extensive experience in the use of sentinel lymph node mapping and biopsies.

Sutter Cancer Centers offers advanced treatments for melanoma, including the latest diagnostic tools that allow doctors to determine how far the cancer has advanced. Patients at Sutter Cancer Centers also have the benefit of Consultative Tumor Conferences that provide patients with the expertise of doctors representing multiple specialties. At regularly scheduled meetings, these specialists review individual cases and combine their knowledge and experience to create personalized treatment plans.

Beyond medical care, Sutter Cancer Centers also support each patient with an array of services, classes and support groups designed to help patients and families deal with the emotional stress of cancer. Information on these programs is available in the Support for Patients and Families section.

For more information, see the melanoma topic in our Health Information section. Additional information is also available from the National Cancer Institute www.cancer.gov and the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org.