Boston Melanoma Dermatologist
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What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. When found early and treated, melanoma can be cured. If allowed to grow and left untreated, melanoma can spread to other parts of the body and as a result, melanoma can be a deadly form of skin cancer. Your doctor may take a biopsy of a suspicious mole or growth to determine if it is melanoma.
Can Anyone Get Melanoma?
Anyone can get melanoma but research has shown indoor tanning increases a person’s melanoma risk by 75%. Some people have a higher risk of getting melanoma. These people have the following traits/risk factors:
- Are fair skinned
- Have sun-sensitive skin
- Have red hair
- Have over 50 moles, large moles or unusual-looking moles
- Have a weakened immune system
- Melanoma runs in the family
- Have spent a lot of time in the sun
What Is Melanoma Treatment?
The following melanoma treatments may be given to treat the skin
- Excision: a doctor will numb the skin and surgically cut out the melanoma and some of the normal-looking skin around the melanoma
- Mohs surgery: a surgeon will cut out the tumor and a very small amount of normal-looking skin surrounding the tumor. While the patient waits, the Mohs surgeon uses a microscope to look at what was removed to look for cancer cells. The surgeon will continue to remove a very small amount of skin until the surgeon no longer sees cancer cells under the microscope
If the melanoma gets deeper into the skin or spreads, a patient may need more treatment. Other melanoma treatments include:
- Lymphadenectomy: surgery to remove lymph nodes
- Immunotherapy: treatment that helps the patient’s immune system fight cancer
- Chemotherapy: Medicine that kills the cancer cells
- Radiation therapy: X-rays that kill the cancer cells
Why Choose The Dermatology Institute of Boston for Melanoma Treatment?
At The Dermatology Institute of Boston, our board-certified dermatologists have years of training in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer. Our dermatologists are internationally renowned and highly respected due to their extensive medical expertise.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ali Al-Haseni is an expert when it comes to the treatment of skin cancer. He graduated first in his class at Al-Mustansiriyah School of Medicine and received his Masters in Clinical Dermatology at Boston University’s School of Medicine. During his dermatology residency at Boston Medical Center, he was honored with a number of awards.
Dr. Al-Haseni also took part in a year-long cutaneous oncology fellowship, which provided him with specialized and comprehensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer.
During fellowships like these, cutaneous oncology fellows are given firsthand experience with a wide variety of skin-cancer cases. They are given the opportunity to interact weekly with patients who are suffering from skin cancers like melanomas, cutaneous lymphomas, and advanced NMSC (non-melanoma skin cancers).
Fellows are able to explore several emerging skin-cancer therapies, assist with Mohs surgeries for skin-cancer removal, and lead procedural clinics. They participate in medical society meetings, prepare lectures, conduct deep research in cutaneous oncology, and more.
The wealth of medical and surgical cutaneous oncology experience that Dr. Al-Haseni gained from this fellowship makes him an especially ideal choice for skin-cancer treatment. Other dermatologists typically have some degree of knowledge when it comes to skin cancer, but few have the same degree of specialized experience in this topic.
Dr. Al-Haseni is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and has vast experience in general, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology, all of which are key for skin-cancer treatment. He is also fluent in both Arabic and English, allowing him to connect with patients of many cultural backgrounds.
At The Dermatology Institute of Boston, patient health is paramount, and proper treatment is vital. Dr. Al-Haseni and our other skilled dermatologists pride themselves on their boutique service and personalized care. They perform high-quality cutting-edge treatments and focus on a less-is-more approach, helping patients feel confident that their unique needs are being met.
Our staff provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere, ensuring optimal patient comfort. We are consistently recognized as a top choice for treatment in Boston. If you’ve noticed a suspicious lesion, come to us for the high-quality care you deserve.
Hands down the BEST dermatologists in Boston!!!!! They diagnosed a melanoma that I had on my leg that my previous dermatologist told me not to worry about for 2 years! Appointments are super easy to make, the office is super clean and bright, and the staff is amazing as well. I can’t wait to try them out for some cosmetic stuff that I want done. I highly recommend the Dermatology Institute of Boston!!
– Christy Rathjens
Tips to Prevent Melanoma
- If you use tanning beds, stop immediately
- If you spend time outdoors, do it when the sun is less intense (before 10am or after 4pm)
- Wear sunscreen every day that is SPF 30 or higher and with “broad spectrum” protection (blocks against UVA and UVB rays)
- Wear sunglasses that have UV protection
- Get skin cancer screening by your dermatologist
- Check your skin for signs of cancer
- Know the ABCDE’s of melanoma
- – Asymmetry
- – Border
- – Color
- – Diameter
- – Evolving
Schedule a Melanoma Treatment Consultation
If you are concerned you may have melanoma and would like to visit our Boston office for a checkup, please schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified providers or contact our office directly.
Learn more at the American Academy of Dermatology: AAD Melanoma.
Melanoma FAQ
How quickly can melanoma spread?
The spread of melanoma varies from case to case and is difficult to predict. While certain melanomas spread slowly, others spread rapidly.
The spread of melanoma is prompted by several factors. Cancer cells consume oxygen and nutrients in the skin, and when they need more oxygen and nutrients, they spread through the bloodstream and the lymph system to find them.
Lactic acid increases when sugars naturally break down, and this also causes cancer cells to spread, seeking out other areas that are lower in acidity. Additionally, inflammation can encourage spread.
The speed of melanoma’s spread may be influenced by the patient’s age, the presence of certain underlying conditions, the thickness of the lesion, whether or not it is ulcerated and the mitotic rate of the melanoma cells.
There are different stages of melanoma and stage 4 melanoma is the most advanced and in this stage, it has spread to other parts of the body. Treatment of the melanoma will vary depending on what stage it is.
Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. Because it can become fatal, speedy and precise melanoma treatment is key.
How deep do they cut to remove melanoma?
During surgical treatment for melanoma skin cancer, a dermatologist or surgeon will cut through the epidermal and dermal skin layers. They will reach down beneath these layers to the level of the fat, which is called the hypodermis or the subcutis. This improves the likelihood of complete removal of the melanoma, including its roots.
Wide excision is ideal for removal of early-stage melanoma. This minor procedure only takes one to two hours to perform. After local anesthesia is administered, a precise incision is made around the lesion, along with at least two centimeters of surrounding skin. Once the lesion is completely removed, the incision is then closed with stitches.
In certain cases, the lymph nodes must be removed (lymphadenectomy) to get rid of all traces of the cancer. When this is necessary, the removal will not be performed at our office. Instead, it will be performed by a surgeon in a surgical center or a hospital, and the patient will be under general anesthesia.
What are the signs to get screened for melanoma?
One of the most common signs of a melanoma is a spot or mole that has changed or evolved. There are a number of types of changes to watch out for.
If a lesion changes in terms of its symptoms, this is an indicator to visit our office for a melanoma screening. Itchiness, bleeding, crusting, and tenderness are examples of new symptoms that may occur in a mole or spot that may indicate a melanoma.
If a lesion changes in color, this can also be a sign that it is melanoma. It may go from brown to black and brown or develop shades of red, pink or grey. It may even become multicolored and develop a complex color pattern with shades of black, brown, tan, grey, red, or white.
If a lesion changes in elevation, this is another cause for concern. In many cases, lesions that were once flat may become raised. This should warrant evaluation by a dermatologist.
If a lesion grows in size, this can potentially indicate melanoma. Keep an eye on the diameter of any suspicious moles. Larger moles or spots or growing lesions may be a sign of melanoma. However, melanoma can also develop even in small moles or small spots.
