Skin cancer is very malignant.

According to the Department of Plastic Surgery and Rehabilitation (Central Dermatology Hospital), recently, doctors of the department have continuously received patients with melanoma, a very malignant type of skin cancer.

Most recently, a 75-year-old patient with DTC (from Ninh Binh) came to the clinic with black, ulcerated, oozing and bleeding patches on his fingers. Before that, the patient only had mild pain in the nail area of ​​the middle finger of his right hand.

The patient came to the Central Dermatology Hospital after being examined and treated at other medical facilities but not getting better.

The patient said that for about a year now, a black lesion has appeared on the nail and skin of the middle finger of his right hand, gradually increasing in size. It is not painful but rough, ulcerated, oozing fluid, and then "eats" away the nail plate.

At the Central Dermatology Hospital, patients are examined and prescribed blood tests, ultrasound, and dermoscography (a specialized technique for early detection of signs of skin cancer).

"Through examination and test results, we have a preliminary diagnosis of melanoma on the third finger (middle finger) of the right hand," said Dr. Nguyen Huu Quang, Deputy Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Central Dermatology Hospital.

The patient was admitted to the hospital, consulted and scheduled for cancer resection and sentinel lymph node dissection.

According to Dr. Quang, post-operative pathology tests showed that the patient had early-stage melanoma, with no metastasis detected. Therefore, this patient is currently only being treated with surgery and monitored for the next 5 years, with no indication for chemotherapy or radiotherapy. After surgery, the patient is stable and recovering well.

Note common features

Previously, the Department of Plastic Surgery and Rehabilitation also received a 69-year-old female patient LTP (from Thanh Hoa) who came in with a black patch on the first toe (big toe) of her right foot, ulcerated, oozing and bleeding, and mild pain. The patient had been examined and treated at medical facilities but did not improve.

According to the patient's feedback, before coming to the clinic, a black lesion appeared on the nail and skin of the big toe of the right foot. This lesion was not painful but gradually increased in size, became rough, ulcerated, and oozed fluid. For nearly a year before coming to the Central Dermatology Hospital, the patient had been examined and treated in many places but the lesion continued to worsen.

At the Central Dermatology Hospital, the patient was diagnosed with melanoma on the first toe (big toe) of the right foot and was admitted to the hospital to have the entire black lesion removed. After surgery, the pathology results confirmed melanoma.

Dr. Quang noted that melanoma is one of the most malignant skin cancers because it progresses rapidly and metastasizes far away. However, if detected early, the treatment results are curable and the 5-year survival rate is very high.

"Signs of melanoma are black lesions larger than 6 mm, progressively increasing in size, and inconsistent in color anywhere on the skin and mucous membranes. In Vietnamese people, the disease often appears on the feet, toes, and fingers. When these signs appear, patients should visit a specialist facility for proper diagnosis and early treatment," Dr. Quang advised.