All skin cancers can be bad, but Melanoma is without a doubt the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It is the leading cause of death from any type of skin disease. This type of skin cancer involves the cells called melanocytes. These cells produce the skin pigment called melanin, which is responsible for skin and hair color.
Melanoma has the ability to spread very rapidly. It is less common than the other types of skin cancer. The rate of melanoma continues to increase and it is the leading cause of death from any of the skin diseases.
The actual risk of developing melanoma tends to increase with age, but the disease can and does affect the young and otherwise healthy people.
A melanoma may appear anywhere on normal skin. It may begin where there is a mole or any other area that has changed in its appearance. Often times, moles that were present at birth, may develop into melanomas.
Anyone who develops a melanoma is due to sun exposure, especially from sunburns during childhood. It is also most common among those people having fair skin, blue or green eyes and red or blond hair.
Who is at Risk of developing Melanoma?
1. A Family history of melanoma
2. Having red or blond hair and fair skin
3. Having multiple birthmarks
4. Developing precancerous sores
5. Freckling on the upper back
6. Multiple blistering sunburns before age 20
7. Several years spent at an outdoor summer job as a teenager
8. Exposure to strong sunlight
The most obvious symptom of any skin cancer is normally a mole, sore, lump, or growth on the skin. If there is any change in the appearance of a pigmented skin sore over time, this is a definite warning sign. You also need to watch for any bleeding from a skin growth.
The ABCD system of skin cancer can help you remember what might be symptoms of melanoma:
* Asymmetry: One half of the area is different from the other half
* Borders: The growth may irregular edges
* Color: Changes from one area to another (tan, brown, or black, sometimes white, red, or blue). There may be a mixture of colors that within one sore
* Diameter: The trouble spot is usually, but not always, about the size of a pencil eraser
The most critical key to treating any melanoma is early recognition of the symptoms. Unless you check your body on a regular basis, you might not notice some small spot of concern. See a dermatologist yearly.
If you find any suspicious areas on your skin, see your physician as soon as possible.
The American Cancer Society strongly recommends a yearly professional skin examination after age 40 and every 3 years for those in the 20 - 40 age range. Monthly self-examinations are also highly recommended.
If your health care provider suspects melanoma based on the appearance of the growth, sore, or lump, a biopsy may be performed confirm the diagnosis. The biopsy may remove a small area of a growth it may remove the entire growth.
The cancerous cells and possibly a portion of the normal surrounding skin may be surgically removed. The physician may also perform a lymph node biopsy to check and determine if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. If it has spread to the lymph nodes, then these lymph nodes may also need to be removed. If a large area of skin is affected, then a skin graft may be necessary.
Surgery can cure only the smallest and most shallow melanomas, so an early diagnosis is very important. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy may be used in addition to surgery.
If the skin cancer has progressed to a depth of 4 mm or the lymph nodes have evidence of cancer, there is a very high risk that the cancer either has spread or will spread to other tissues and organs.
For those patients where the melanoma has spread beyond the skin and lymph nodes to other organs of the body, the treatment is much more difficult. When this is the case, the melanoma is usually not curable. Treatment at this stage is aimed at shrinking the tumor and improving symptoms. Both chemotherapy and the use of other drugs may be tried.
The success of treatment depends on numerous factors, that include the general health of the patient and whether the cancer has in fact, spread to the lymph nodes or other organs.
If caught in the earliest stages, melanoma can be cured, but there is a risk of the cancer returning depending on the depth of the tumor. Deeper tumors have a tendency to come back. Also, if the cancer has definitely spread to lymph nodes, there is a much greater chance that the melanoma will return. If the melanoma has spread to other tissues and organs, the cure rate and survival rates are low. Melanoma that has spread may lead to the patient's death.
You Must see your health care provider as soon as you notice any symptoms that might indicate melanoma.
**** If any skin growth you have changes in color, size or texture
**** If any existing lesion you have causes pain, swelling, bleeding or itching
Mickey Lieberman is a Computer Consultant with over 30 years of experience working with both IBM mainframes, in various capacities and PC's. My skin cancer was diagnosed early and surgically removed.
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