The human skin is to a large extent susceptible to the influence of various environmental factors. That is why it is logical that the reason of malign skin neoplasms are the external factors. The development of melanoma, a malign tumour of pigment cells, is often determined by aggressive ultraviolet impact, as well as the consequences of naevi (birthmarks) microtraumas.

Melanoma is the kind of disease with considerable racial predilection. However, it is connected not with the specific racial peculiarities, but with the colour of the skin only. Melanoma is extremely rare among the black race, and it cannot be called the common disease for the Asian people. Statistically, melanoma most often affects people with fair skin which are highly susceptible to the solar radiation. Those people who get sunburn instead of suntan in the sun have several times higher risk of melanoma development.

Although China is among the countries with low melanoma susceptibility, a number of new and effective methods of treatment of that dangerous disease has been recently developed and successfully introduced into the clinical practice there. In particular, immunotherapy based on the unique medications manufactured by the Chinese researchers is widely used in the Chinese medical centers. Notably, these are not only vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, but also medications based on bioregulation herbs, which have been used in the traditional Chinese medicine from the old.

Melanoma treatment in China becomes more popular among the patients with that diagnosis from the different countries. Foreign patients are attracted to the Chinese clinics not only by the effective treatment methods, but also by healthy influence of the recreational complexes.

The «NewMed Center» company provides a wide range of services for melanoma treatment in China. Our qualified specialists in cooperation with the Chinese doctors choose the optimal programme of diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation of the patients with such diagnosis. We are in touch with the patients and their relatives 24/7 and we help them solve any arising problems and troubles.

Melanoma pathogenesis and special aspects of diagnostics in China

Apart from many other cancerous neoplasms, melanoma can often be seen by the unaided eye. In the majority of cases this type of tumour is developed from naevi on the limbs, more rare on the trunk, head and neck. However, melanoma development is not excepted on the “clear” skin parts, mucous epithelium of the mouth, rectum, vagina, eyes and nose.

As a rule, early-stage melanoma is notable for its slow expansion rate. In the medical practice the stage of tumour is called horizontal development stage. Tumour at this stage is well-treated and it actually does not spread to the other tissues. But unfortunately the majority of the patients ignore early-stage symptoms, so the tumour slips into the vertical development stage. This neoplasm is notable for its fast expansion, noticeable growth of the dark colouring agent and tumour extension to the adjacent areas.

The patients often cannot detect this type of malign tumour on the body, especially if the neoplasm expands from a nevus or a pigment spot. In some degree melanoma can be suspected with such clinical signs as nevus itching, asymmetry, mottling, serrated edges, ulceration, rapid expansion.

For accurate diagnosis of melanoma in the Chinese hospitals the following methods are used:

• Microdermoscopy (performed by epiluminescence microscope);
• Thermography;
• Histological examination (performed after complete excision of the compromised nevus, biopsy sampling may have extremely negative effects);
•  Nuclear magnetic resonance, computer tomography and isotopic examination (performed to detect metastases into organs and lymph nodes).

Main methods of melanoma treatment in China

As in the medical centers all over the world, the key method of melanoma treatment in the Chinese clinics is the surgical intervention to excise tumour, with chemotherapy and radiotherapy as concurrent methods. In most cases radical neck dissection is performed, in case of necessity lymph node dissection can also be done. The Chinese medical centers efficiently apply laser to excise awkward-to-reach tumours.

Since recently cryosurgery is used to treat precancerous skin tumours and extremely small interfacial melanomas. The compromised skin area is destructed by cryogenic nitrogen at the temperature of minus 172°С.

The Chinese doctors are famous for their considerable success in development of the new immunotherapy preparations. Immunotherapy is now a multidisciplinary direction in China to treat cancerous diseases, including melanoma. The priority method today is so-called vaccine therapy. It is based on the use artificially enhanced immune potential of the body to fight with cancerous cells. However, a lot of attention is paid to the preparations based on bioregulation herbs. They catalyze the immune system and activate the native body resources.

Purely therapeutic methods in the Chinese clinics are practically always accompanied by conditioning and reinstating procedures from the ancient Chinese medicine armory. China, apart from the West, has not rejected and lost the knowledge accumulated by centuries. Generally speaking, that is the secret of efficiency of treatment in China.