How to determine melanoma?

Resolved question:

Dear doctor,
I am in a state of despair and confusion. I have got a black mole which was turned out to be of melanoma on a biopsy test. Later my doctor did another biopsy in the same area and it was given a plain and clean result. Why this does happens so? Should I do some more tests to make it confirm? How can I confirm that melanoma will not spread my entire body? Is there any special type of test to get everything confirmed with assurance?

Submitted: 4 Days
Category: Community

Expert:  Dr. John Fuller replied 4 Days.

Thanks for your question.
I can understand your concern well. But accuracy of biopsy depends on certain factors including type of biopsy done with you. Excisional biopsies are known to be the best procedure to find out melanoma and such suspicious lesions. It is because they can remove the entire lesion.  If you did a shave biopsy or a punch biopsy, an excisional biopsy can get you the best margins. Usually blood tests are not done to find melanoma. In certain cases, some tests are done before or during the treatment of certain kinds of more advanced melanomas. Anyway, get an excisional biopsy done at the earliest to confirm what is wrong with you. Your doctor can surely help you out with this.
Good luck.

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