Are you having back pain with any of the following?
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Welcome to My Doctor Online. I appreciate the opportunity to be involved in your care and hope to make it easier for you to meet your health care needs. My colleagues and I have developed this website so you can e-mail me, check your lab results, refill prescriptions, access our many online programs or get information about a particular health topic that we have evaluated or written ourselves – any time it's convenient for you.
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Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. It can suddenly appear on the skin or develop on an existing mole.
Melanoma develops in a skin cell (melanocyte) in the top layer of your skin. These cells produce a substance (melanin) that gives skin its color. Your skin gets darker when you spend time in the sun because more melanin is produced. Too much exposure to the sun’s UV light is a risk factor for melanoma.
Melanoma can spread through the bloodstream to many parts of the body. The key to successful treatment is early diagnosis.
Treatment depends on the location and spread of melanoma. You may have one type or a combination of treatment options.
Risk factors for melanoma include:
Skin cells (melanocytes) can grow together and form moles. Moles come in many sizes, shapes, and colors. Most moles are normal. When a mole changes significantly, it can be a warning sign of melanoma.
The strongest risk factors for melanoma are:
Not all melanoma can be prevented. However, you can protect yourself and your family by reducing your exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.
Know “ABCDE,” or signs that may indicate melanoma:
You may also notice itching or bleeding from the abnormal patch of skin. If you have any of these symptoms, contact us for a melanoma screening.
Catching melanoma early increases the chance for successful treatment. It’s important that you regularly check your body for signs of small growths and changes in moles. Let us know right away if you have a suspicious growth or mole change.
To diagnose melanoma, we remove as much of the abnormal tissue as possible (biopsy). The tissue is evaluated under a microscope by a pathologist. If needed, we may order additional tests.
Staging means how far the cancer has spread. Your treatment is based on the stage of the cancer.
The stage is based on the thickness of the tumor and if the cancer has spread within the skin or to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Treatment depends on the location of the tumor and how far the cancer has spread.
Treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and sometimes chemotherapy. Once we know the stage of your cancer, we’ll develop the best treatment plan for you.
One of the most important parts of your care is taking good care of yourself during and after treatment.
If you are having symptoms that concern you, your first contact will typically be with your personal physician, who will evaluate your health and symptoms.
If specialty care is needed, your personal physician will facilitate the process of scheduling an appointment in my department. If appropriate, she or he might contact me or one of my colleagues while you are in the office so we can all discuss your care together. If we decide you need an appointment with me after that discussion, we can often schedule it the same day or soon thereafter.
During your office visit, we may discuss your medical and family history, and I will examine your skin and ask questions about your symptoms. I will explain the findings of your exam and answer any questions or concerns you may have. We will discuss treatment options, and together we will create a treatment plan that is right for you.
If you need to talk with me after your visit or procedure, please call my office. You can also e-mail me with nonurgent issues from this website whenever it is convenient for you.
For general medical advice, our Appointment and Advice line is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
If you have urgent concerns or issues while my office is closed, or need general medical advice, you can call the Appointment and Advice line. You will be connected with a nurse who can give you immediate advice.
If you are experiencing a serious problem or an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room when the clinic is not open.
Having all of our Kaiser Permanente departments located together or nearby, including pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, and health education, makes getting your care easier for you.
Another major benefit is our comprehensive electronic medical record system, which allows all of the doctors and clinicians involved in your care to stay connected on your health status and collaborate with each other as appropriate.
When every member of the health care team is aware of all aspects of your condition, care is safer and more effective.
We will work together to monitor and assess how your medications are working and make adjustments over time. Prescriptions can be filled at any Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. Just let me know which pharmacy works best for you, and I will send the prescription electronically in advance of your arrival at the pharmacy.
If refills are needed in the future, you can:
For lab tests, I will use our electronic medical record system to send the requisition to the Kaiser Permanente laboratory of your choice. For imaging procedures, we will schedule an appointment with the Radiology department. When the results are ready, I will contact you with your results by letter, secure e-mail message, or phone. In addition, you can view most of your laboratory results online, along with any comments that I have attached to explain them.
If we decide together that your condition would also benefit from the care of other types of specialists, our staff will help arrange the appointment(s) with one or more of my specialty colleagues.
As your specialist, I have a goal to provide high-quality care and to offer you choices that make your health care convenient. I recommend that you become familiar with the many resources we offer so that you can choose the services that work best for you.
My Doctor Online is available at any time that is most convenient for you. From my home page you can:
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.