A Hen's tooth here... Melanoma
can be insidious as in this source article, allegedly an enlarging bump that lacked any of the irregular coloration classically associated with it. Such cases are less than 5% of melanoma, and happily for our malpractice carriers, often have features suggestive of basal cell carcinoma or other things we're still inclined to biopsy. Many more melanomas have features that a layperson educated on the subject could flag as suspicious enough to show us directly or at least show their family doctor who might biopsy it himself or at least could get folks in to see us quicker. The overall cure rate of melanoma climbed to 90%, before the recent wave of potentially effective drugs for it, mainly by getting patients and doctors more aware of it. Internet has plenty of resources to help you learn for what you should be looking. Check them out then try to look yourself over every month or two. In addition to the specific features described online be on the look for lesions that change over a couple months time. Especially if you have some risk factors, like being fair complected, having many or unusual moles, or having a family history of melanoma. Running marathons is a recognized risk factor. Some may be worth having their spots followed, by at least their family doctors and in some cases by us. Early diagnosis gives excellent cure rates.
Later diagnosis may offer a worse prognosis, but isn't without hope. Melanoma has long known to have the highest rate of all cancers of what could be interpreted as miraculous outcomes: widespread disease either completely disappearing or becoming indolent. Enough that we've long been trying to learn from them how He did it. After decades of study, new drugs are starting to let us induce miracles.
Useful, helpful, hopeful and considerate information. Thank you Hen’s tooth.
Skin problems are so numerous in type and similar in appearance they seem to defy clear classification even for a trained dermatologist at least one not willing to spend the time to dig a little deeper instead of just trying something. I’ve had three diagnoses for the very same problem over the years and it is still unresolved. Steroids or antifungals seem to be the only two tools in the box and if you can’t take oral antifungals you are out of luck in that department.
Dermatologists seem to be much more interested in easier and more lucrative sub-specialties dealing with beauty instead of health.
Thank you. I’m not jaded to all physicians just a lot of them.