melanoma
Let an agent give accurate general information on melanoma, encourage skin checks and prompt assessment of changing moles, explain diagnosis and treatment in general terms, and point to specialist care and support without individual medical advice.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent give accurate general information on melanoma, encourage skin checks and prompt assessment of changing moles, explain diagnosis and treatment in general terms, and point to specialist care and support without individual medical advice.
A cancer arising from melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells, most often in the skin but also in the eye and mucous membranes, less common than other skin cancers but more likely to spread, with risk raised by ultraviolet exposure, fair skin and family history; melanoma is detected by skin checks and biopsy and treated with surgery and, for advanced disease, immunotherapy and targeted therapies.
What it is for: A cancer requiring early detection and specialist treatment.
It can be explain warning signs and prevention; describe types and stages in general terms; explain treatment pathways; find specialist care and support.
Distinguishing features
Melanocyte origin
High metastatic potential
UV-related risk
Detectable by skin checks
What it looks like
Often a new or changing mole or pigmented lesion; sometimes non-pigmented.
How it is recognised
Asymmetry, irregular border, colour variation, diameter and evolution
Skin, eye or mucosal sites
Most moles are benign
Related models
is a kind of - category
is a kind of - category
is treated by - services
is related to - subungual melanoma
In practice
Families and kinds
cutaneous melanoma
lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma
ocular melanoma
mucosal melanoma
metastatic melanoma
Standards and regulation
Dermatology and oncology clinical guidelines
Sun protection public health guidance
Sunbed regulations
Failure modes and hazards
Delayed assessment of changing moles
Agents diagnosing from descriptions or images
Unproven treatments
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Detect Warning signs.
Early detection.
Changes
Changing moles.
Changes
Changes.
- Has a mole or lesion changed in size, shape, colour or symptoms, or is a new one growing? boundary
- Should the person see a doctor promptly for assessment rather than rely on a description or image? action
Checks
Skin checks.
Checks
Skin checks.
- How should skin self-checks be done, and who should have regular professional checks, according to guidance? provenance
- Which sites are easily missed, such as nails and eyes? provenance
Understand The disease.
General information.
Types
Types and stages.
Types
Types.
- What type and stage is being discussed, in general terms? definition
- Is the user asking about their own diagnosis or results? boundary
Risk
Risk factors and prevention.
Risk
Risk.
- What do health authorities say about UV exposure, sunbeds, skin type and family history? provenance
- Which sun protection measures are recommended? provenance
Treatment Care pathway.
Specialist care.
Pathway
Diagnosis and treatment.
Pathway
Pathway.
- How is melanoma diagnosed and treated, according to guidelines, in general terms, including immunotherapy for advanced disease? provenance
- Which questions should be asked of the oncology team? action
Trials
Clinical trials.
Trials
Trials.
- Which trials are recruiting, according to registries? provenance
- How can a patient discuss trials with their team? action
Support Living with it.
Support helps.
Organisations
Patient groups.
Organisations
Patient groups.
- Which patient organisations support people with melanoma here? provenance
- Which services do they offer? provenance
Follow-up
After treatment.
Follow-up
Follow-up.
- What follow-up and survivorship care is recommended? provenance
- How can carers be supported? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Should each melanoma type be a separate entry?
- How should guidelines be linked?
- How should support organisations be localised?