Decisiondx Melanoma Testing: A Case Study

Unlike other cancers which we can develop, melanoma can often be detected on the skin which allows doctors to treat it at its early stages resulting in less complications and lower death rates to patients, again if left undetected at its early stages this can easily spread to distant areas and distant organs. Once melanoma has spread to other areas of the body which is classified as stage IV it is diagnosed as

A review of the records reveals the member to be an adult male with a birth date of 03/28/1966. The member has a diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The member’s treating provider, Brion Lock, MD a VeriStrat® testing for the member, which was performed on 02/11/2016.

The carrier has denied coverage of Oncotype DX Colon Cancer Assay as experimental and/or investigational and not medically necessary. There is a letter from the carrier to Genomic Health Inc., dated 06/28/2016 which states:

The carrier has denied coverage of Omnitrope 10mg as not medically necessary. There is a letter from the carrier to the member dated 01/13/2016, which states:

Kristen, I found your posting very informative especially regarding the risk factors of the Hispanic community. One small observation that I noted is that there is no explanation as to what the MRAT acronym stands far. The Melanoma Risk Assessment Tool (MRAT) unfortunately is very limited in its usage because it is useful for non-Hispanic whites only missing a significant portion of our population.

The carrier has denied coverage of FDG-PET scan as not medically necessary. A letter from the carrier to the member, dated 05/08/2016, states in part:

The FDA put legal, regulatory limitations on the use of MelaFind scanner, requiring a five year post approval study to be conducted, evaluating if MelaFind had an increase in diagnostic sensitivity for melanoma and high grade lesions without an increase in false positive results (Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health [CADTH], 2014) [Click and drag to move] .

The article “Melanoma: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments” written by Markus MacGill and reviewed by Dr. Helen Webberley is exactly what it states, an article on the integumentary disease melanoma. This article tells everything about melanoma, stating that it is a very deadly type of skin cancer. It is fortunate that it is the least common, however it is still responsible for the majority of skin cancer related deaths each year. Melanoma comes from pigment-producing cells that have mutated into a cancerous cell. They spread quickly, almost too quickly to catch. Skin cancer is first noticed by the look of the skin, then can be confirmed or denied with testing. Melanoma may not produce symptoms. Staying out of the sun for extended amounts of time is best when avoiding skin problems, especially skin cancer. Melanoma is seen mostly in people over the age of forty, and favors women. It can develop anywhere on the skin but does favor the trunk of men and the legs of women. Melanoma will form changes in existing moles on the skin. People should be checking for noticeable differences in skin constantly, especially those who have a known risk. Some early indicators of melanoma could be pale skin, light eyes, numerous moles, multiple freckles, sun exposure, light hair, age, and a few more. Sadly, most these are unavoidable.

The care of patients who have cutaneous melanoma (CM) has undergone a dramatic shift during the past 5 decades. Excision of pre-metastatic; CM has been the overriding goal. because once distant metastases have occurred. prognosis is dismal. Skin awareness and self-examination by patients. screening examinations of the skin, nails, and mucous membranes by physicians, and careful long-term Surveillance of patients determined in be al high risk for CM 'based on identifiable historic and phenotypic traits are having an immediate positive impact on CM. related mortality and CM-related case. fatality rate.

The carrier has denied coverage of H.P. Acthar Gel 80 units/ml vial as experimental and/or investigational and not medically necessary. A Review History dated 05/10/2016, notes the Denial explanation in part:

Malignant melanoma is the most commonly seen skin cancer and it has the highest number of deaths among diseases of the skin (Friedman, Rigel, Kopf and Polsky, 2005). Among the many factors that cause this cutaneous cancer genetic modifications, viruses, carcinogens and excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays are the most commonly occurring (Friedman, Rigel, Kopf and Polsky, 2005). Malignant melanoma affects all areas of the skin and the disease forms in melanocytes, which are the cells in which pigments (melanin) are synthesized (Melanoma Treatment). The cancer has its origin in the epidermis and affect squamous and basal cells. The disease usually affects the trunk, arms and legs but can also be present in the eye, affecting the

In conclusion, Max’s physician could undertake the following procedures to treat melanoma. If the melanoma is minor a procedure called wide excision is recommended. In this procedure, a diagnosis is made by a skin biopsy and the area around the cancer needs to be removed as well by a small

The melanoma community, consists of those experiencing melanoma (past, or present), and their families and friends, and are specifically targeted for advocacy, and support services (Including assistance with finances as needed for treatments). The general public is MRF’s target for awareness and prevention campaigns. This is a diverse audience,

Thesis: Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States but is highly curable if detected early and treated properly.

Skin cancers have become increasingly prevalent over the last 30 years, with 87,000 new melanoma diagnoses per year in the United States (American Cancer Association, 2016). With regards to skin melanoma, medical professionals struggle most with the diagnosis rather than the treatment (Ferris et al., 2017). Therefore, it is important for the medical community to focus on diagnosis- related struggles.