The Melanoma Center

Skin oncologists treat cancers of the skin as well as other malignant diseases that have dermatological consequences.  At UC Irvine Medical Center, patients with these conditions are diagnosed and treated at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

NCI-designated Center

The Chao Family Comprehensive Center provides fully integrated research, prevention, diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation programs for patients and families coping with cancer.   We are one of 39 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States, and the only one in Orange County.

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Team approach

Our patients receive care from a coordinated team of specialists, including dermatologists, oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses, case managers and other allied health professionals.

Skin cancers

Among the many forms of skin cancer are:

• Melanoma. The most dangerous form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma can be fatal if untreated. Often arising in moles, melanoma that is not removed in its early stages can invade other parts of the body. While it can occur anywhere on the body, melanoma appears most frequently on the trunk in men and on the legs in women.
• Basal cell carcinoma. The most common form of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is rarely life threatening, but can be disfiguring if allowed to grow. It occurs mainly on the face and neck and is characterized by pimples that on’t heal, unyielding red bumps and red, scaly areas smaller than a pencil eraser. Basal cell carcinoma has an extremely low rate of metastasis (spreading to other parts of the body).
• Squamous cell carcinoma. The second most common form of cancer, squamous cell cancer may appear as a firm red bump, an abnormal patch of skin, or a sore that bleeds and does not heal. It is highly treatable, but it can metastasize. The most common places affected are sun-exposed areas such as the back of the hand, scalp, lip and upper portion of the ear.
• Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. This is a disease caused by T-lymphocytes (white blood cells) that become malignant and multiply within the skin. This slow-growing cancer often develops over many years.

Diagnosis and treatment

The diagnosis of skin cancer typically involves a biopsy, usually done on an outpatient basis. In this procedure, all or part of the suspicious growth is removed and examined under a microscope to determine if cancer cells are present, and if so, what kind.

A new, advanced imaging technology called SIAscopy™ is available at UC Irvine Medical Center. This noninvasive procedure allows physicians to obtain high-resolution images of the skin that are analyzed for indicators of various skin diseases. The procedure is painless, noninvasive, and can help physicians monitor and diagnose different kinds of skin cancers without subjecting the patient to a biopsy.

If a growth is cancerous, several kinds of treatments are available. The most common include:

• Surgery. The primary treatment for melanoma involves excising the tumor and the tissue margin around it. If the tumor goes deep into the skin, nearby lymph nodes may be removed and examined to determine if they contain cancer cells. Melanoma that has spread to other organs may require further surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
• Curettage and electrodessication. The cancer is removed with a sharp, spoon-shaped instrument, after which an electric current is used to control bleeding and destroy any remaining cancer cells.
• Mohs micrographic surgery. The visible tumor is excised along with small fragments of surrounding margin. Additional fragments are removed in sequence and examined under a microscope until it is shown that all cancer has been eliminated.
• Laser therapy. High-intensity light is used to remove or destroy precancerous cells on the outer skin layer.
• Radiation therapy. High-energy rays are sometimes used for areas that are difficult to treat surgically, such as the eyelid, tip of the nose and ear.
• Chemotherapy. Topical chemical agents can be applied to treat precancerous skin conditions and cancers limited to the top layer of the skin. Chemotherapy is increasingly being used to treat basal cell carcinoma.

The Melanoma Center

The Melanoma Center specializes in screening, diagnosing and treating patients with all stages of melanoma. The center’s multidisciplinary team includes medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, dermatologists, dermatopathologists and nuclear medicine specialists. Treatments include:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Novel drug therapies
• Reconstructive plastic surgery

Melanoma Center staff members also participate in the latest skin cancer research.

Clinical Research

Our physicians participate in National Cancer Institute-sponsored clinical trials featuring new drugs and the most advanced options in skin cancer detection, treatment and care. By participating in clinical trials, patients at UC Irvine Medical Center can gain access to new technologies and treatments long before they are available to the general public.

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