Overview:
One of the serious types of skin cancer is melanoma. The treatment options for melanoma might not be successful all the time. Mere exposure to the sun can increase the risk of melanoma. It is essential for an individual to track the moles that are growing in the body. However, a precise diagnosis can give way for wide treatment options.
What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is a type of malignant cancer that develops in the skin. This cancer is known to develop from the cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin. Melanin refers to the dark-colored pigment that gives color to the skin. In addition to the color, melanin also provides protection against ultraviolet rays. Melanocytes also have a vital role in immunity.
What Are the Causes of Melanoma?
Any abnormality in the production of melanocytes can cause melanoma. Any disturbance to the DNA can cause damage to the cells and result in the growth of new abnormal cells. In addition to these, ultraviolet radiation and genetic factors are the main causes of the occurrence of melanoma.
What Are the Symptoms of Melanoma?
The signs and symptoms associated with melanoma are,
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Development of new and unusual pigmentation in the skin.
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A mole that can change its existing size and shape.
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Ulceration and bleeding.
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A red spot that is flat, rough, and dry.
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Soreness in the skin.
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Painful and itchy lesions.
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Formation of crust in the involved site.
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Delayed wound healing.
Spreading of melanoma can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and fatigue.
What Are the Types of Melanoma?
There are four notable types of melanoma. They are:
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Superficial Spreading Melanoma: Among all types of melanomas, this is the most common type. It can occur on the lumps and trunk. Initially, cancer tends to grow very slowly, and in later stages, it grows rapidly across the surface of the skin.
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Nodular Melanoma: Nodular melanoma is the second most common type of melanoma. This can occur in the head, neck, and trunk region. This variant tends to grow more rapidly than other types. The lesions that are caused by nodular melanoma might appear bluish-black or red.
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Lentigo Maligna Melanoma: It is a rare type of melanoma, and lentigo maligna melanoma has a tendency to occur only in adults. The main reason for the occurrence of this condition is excessive exposure to sunlight. In the initial stages, it might look like small stains and later develop into a dangerous condition.
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Acral Lentiginous Melanoma: This melanoma is the rarest variant. The lesions caused by the condition can occur on the soles of the feet, palms of the hands, and the nails' interior parts. One of the latest advantages of people with dark skin is that they have a very rare possibility of getting melanoma. But, acral lentiginous melanoma can affect dark-skinned people also.
What Are the Different Stages of Melanoma?
There are totally five stages in melanoma. They are:
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Stage 0: In this stage, the cancer is present only in the outer layer of the skin. In medical terms, this stage is referred to as melanoma in situ.
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Stage 1: In stage 1, the thickness of the cancer is about two millimeters. There is no involvement of the lymph nodes. By the end of this stage, cancer would not have spread to any other region. In some patients, the skin might be ulcerated.
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Stage 2: In stage 2, melanoma has an average thickness of 1 mm to 4 mm. The increase in thickness is the greatest difference between stage 1 and stage 2. There is no involvement of lymph nodes noted in this stage.
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Stage 3: In stage 3, melanoma has spread to the nearby lymph nodes. The lymphatic channels are affected. In some cases, more than one lymph node is affected. The lesion might be bigger than 4 mm. It is also known to be ulcerated.
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Stage 4: By the end of stage 4, melanoma's cancerous nature would have become severe. A spread of cancer to the distant organs and the lymph nodes is noted. There is also the involvement of the liver, lungs, and brain.
What Is an Ugly Duckling?
An ugly duckling is a sign that indicates melanoma. This recognition method is based on the concept that the normal moles present in the body might be similar to one another. In the case of melanoma, they might appear ugly when compared to the nearby moles or lesions. The lesions that are uglier might be smaller or larger than the nearby moles. In some cases, it might also look darker or lighter than the surrounding region. If a lesion does not have any surrounding wounds, then they are considered an isolated lesion. These isolated lesions are known as ugly ducklings.
What Are the Risk Factors of Melanoma?
There are several risk factors associated with melanoma. They are:
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Skin Complexion: The color of the skin greatly influences the condition of melanoma. People who have dark skin tend to have a higher level of melanin. If the individual is fair-skinned, then they have poor protection from the harmful ultraviolet rays. This is due to the reduced melanin in the cells.
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Sunburn: The presence of severe sunburns that persists for a longer period can increase melanoma risk.
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Ultraviolet Light: Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation either from the sunlight or tanning lights can increase melanoma risk in an individual.
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Geographic Location: People who are known to live near the earth's equator region tend to receive sunlight directly. This can increase the amount of ultraviolet radiation that is received.
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Family History: An individual who has a close family member affected by melanoma has an increased risk.
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Poor Immunity: People who have poor immune power suffer a greater risk of skin cancer.
How Is Melanoma Diagnosed?
Diagnosis requires the following procedures.
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Clinical Examination: The doctor will clinically examine the lesion. The medical history of the patient will be noted.
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Biopsy: Biopsy is the procedure in which the small tissue is removed as a sample. The suspected skin tissue is sent to the laboratory for diagnosis. The punch biopsy is the most recommended method for melanoma. In the punch biopsy, a circular blade is used. It is pressed onto the skin surface. In some cases, an excisional biopsy is also recommended. In this procedure, a scalpel is used to remove the entire portion of the lesion.
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ABCDE Examination: ABCDE examination is a characteristic method of determining melanoma.
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Asymmetric: The moles that are noncancerous tend to be symmetrical and round in shape. If the mole or lesion is cancerous, then it can look different.
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Border: If the borders are ragged, blurred, and notched, then it might indicate the presence of cancer.
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Color: If the lesion has multiple uneven colors, it might indicate the condition of melanoma.
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Diameter: A sudden increase in the size of the lesion can indicate melanoma.
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Evolving: The ability of the condition to evolve into a more vigorous one might indicate skin cancer.
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What Are the Treatment Options for Melanoma?
Surgical options are known to be helpful for melanoma. In the surgical procedure, the lesion is removed along with the smaller part of the normal tissue. If the melanoma involves a larger area of the skin, then the placement of graft might be necessary after the removal. In the later stage of melanoma, radiation therapy is the most commonly employed method. Chemotherapy can also be given to destroy the cancer cells that are present in the skin. The doctor will plan the combination of chemotherapy with radiation therapy. The other two treatment options for skin cancers are immunotherapy and targeted drug therapy. Immunotherapy focuses on enhancing the immune power in an individual. In targeted drug therapy, the drugs are administered to kill the specific cancer cells.
How Can You Prevent Melanoma?
By following the below tips, you can prevent melanoma.
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Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight.
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You can use creams that contain sun protection factors (SPF). Sun cream lotions that contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide are recommended. You are asked to apply these lotions 30 or 60 minutes before going outdoors.
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If you are planning to swim in a pool, then reapplying the sun lotions is recommended. In heavy sweating conditions also, the individual is recommended to apply this lotion once again. Children should be asked to stay indoors if the weather is too hot.
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Wearing long-sleeved clothing can increase your level of protection.
Conclusion:
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can be dangerous when it spreads. So the earlier the condition is diagnosed and treated, the chances for recovery are better because most kinds of skin cancers can be cured if they are treated before they start to spread.
For more help, contact icliniq.com.
