“The AAD encourages everyone to serve as their own health advocate by regularly conducting skin self-exams. Individuals who notice any new spots on their skin, any spots that look different from the others, or anything changing, itching or bleeding, should see a board-certified dermatologist.

Listen to Them Allow your friend to share her experiences without judging or offering advice. Sometimes they may need to vent about how awful cancer treatment is, or even talk about how frightened they are about the prospect of dying. Resist the urge to change the subject. Let them talk!

Coping with emotional and social effects Some have found that talking to an oncology social worker, counselor, or member of the clergy can help them develop more effective ways of coping and talking about cancer. You can also find coping strategies for emotional and social effects in a separate section of this website.

It is better for your family and friends to know the truth now, rather than find out later on. If they find out later, they may feel hurt and upset that they haven't been able to support you. Tell your family and friends if it is difficult to know whether your treatment will be successful.

Skin screenings can detect melanoma and other skin cancers early. Skin cancer screening exams are the best way to catch melanoma and other skin cancers early, when they're easiest to treat. If you're at increased risk for skin cancer, you may need an annual skin cancer screening exam.

Skin cancer diagnosis always requires a skin biopsy This can easily be done during your appointment. The procedure that your dermatologist uses to remove the spot is called a skin biopsy. Having a skin biopsy is essential. It's the only way to know whether you have skin cancer.

Although each person with cancer is different, here are some general suggestions for showing support:

1. Ask permission. Before visiting, giving advice, and asking questions, ask if it is welcome.
2. Make plans.
3. Be flexible.
4. Laugh together.
5. Allow for sadness.
6. Check in.
7. Offer to help.
8. Follow through.

Caregiver tips

1. More tips for caring for a loved one with cancer: Educate yourself.
2. Find a cancer team you trust.
3. Stay organized.
4. Keep your loved one's doctors informed.
5. Follow your loved one's lead.
6. Accept your loved one's bad days.
7. Take a break from cancer.
8. Remind your loved one that you care.

The main treatment for skin cancer is surgery. Depending on the size of your cancer and how far it has grown you might have a different treatment. Your doctor will talk through any possible treatments with you.

In a groundbreaking advance in March 2022 led by Hopkins scientists and oncologists, the FDA approved the combination of anti-PD-1 with another checkpoint blocker, anti-LAG-3, as the first systemic treatment a patient might receive for advanced melanoma.

Surgery to remove the tumor is the primary treatment of all stages of melanoma. A wide local excision is used to remove the melanoma and some of the normal tissue around it. Skin grafting (taking skin from another part of the body to replace the skin that is removed) may be done to cover the wound caused by surgery.

However, in early stage cases, early diagnosis allows for the opportunity to improve the chances of survival with a prompt surgery. Although many physicians treat melanoma surgically three to four weeks after diagnosis, there is no official recommendation on time to treatment.