Melanoma is a malignant cancer occurring on the skin. It is caused by abnormal melanocytes (pigment containing cells). It can be dangerous if it’s not found in the early stages. Surgery to remove the affected area is usually necessary. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy are also used in some cases.
A melanoma is a so-called black cancer of the skin. It forms from the abnormal changes of melanocytes (pigment-producing skin cells). It is one of the most dangerous skin cancers and can be life-threatening.
The cause of melanoma is the abnormal changes in melanocytes (pigment containing cells). Risk factors are: Sunburns in the childhood and youth, immunosuppression, genetic factors (white race, albinism, xeroderma pigmentosum and affected family member) and dysplastic nevi (=abnormal dark birthmarks). There are several types of melanoma: 1) Superficial spreading melanoma: the melanoma has flat but irregular shapes and different colors. 2) Nodular melanoma: the melanoma is not flat but raised. The raised areas are normally black and dark blue or red. This form is especially malignant because it tends to spread into the depth of the skin, which makes metastases more likely. 3) Lentigo maligna melanoma: the melanoma rises on base of a lentigo maligna. This skin alteration often appears due to over-exposure to sunlight, especially on the face, neck and arms. 4) Acral lentiginous melanoma: the melanoma often appears on nails, palms, soles and mucosa. 5.) Amelanotic melanoma: a nodular melanoma without dark pigmentation. Possible indications of melanoma based on the acronym ABCDE include 1) Asymmetry: it often is unevenly shaped, 2) Borders: the edges are irregular, 3) Color: the melanoma has different colors (very dark and brighter areas in the same lesion), 4) Diameter: the melanoma is usually larger than 5mm in diameter, 5) Evolution: it may change in appearance, either in size or color.
The treatment of melanoma is to surgically remove the affected areas including a safety distance. Additional chemotherapy can kill the cancer cells to prevent the cancer from returning. Immunotherapy with medications like interleukin or interferon can be used to strengthen the immune system to fight against the cancer. Radiation therapy can be used if a patient cannot get surgery for reasons like bad general condition or a concomitant disease. If there is any suspicious symptom of melanoma, it is recommended that you consult a dermatologist for early intervention because the risk for metastases is directly depending on the depth of the melanoma.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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