 |
 |
Please select from the list of medical conditions from the below drop-down list:
|
Melanoma
What are signs and symptoms of melanoma?Often, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, or color of an existing mole. It can also appear as a new or abnormal looking mole.
Thinking of "ABCD" can help you remember what to watch for:
When melanoma develops in an existing mole, the texture of the mole can change; it can become hard, lumpy, or scaly. Although a melanoma may feel different and may itch, ooze, or bleed, it usually does not cause pain. How is melanoma detected?It is important that melanoma be detected as early as possible. The disease can be cured if it is diagnosed and treated when the tumor is thin and has not deeply invaded the skin. If a melanoma is not removed early, cancer cells can grow downward from the skin surface, invading healthy tissue. When a melanoma becomes thick and deep, the disease often spreads to other parts of the body and is difficult to control.
Melanoma can be detected at an early stage by patients regularly checking their own skin for new growths or other changes. If changes are found in the skin or a mole during self-examination, the changes should be reported to a doctor immediately.
People who have had melanoma in the past have a high risk of developing a new melanoma. Also, those with relatives who have had this disease have a higher-than-average risk. It is especially important for these people to check their skin regularly and to have frequent medical exams.
Some people have abnormal-looking moles (dysplastic nevi or atypical moles) that may be more likely than "normal" moles to develop into melanoma. Most people with dysplastic nevi have just a few of these abnormal moles; others have many. Those with abnormal looking moles should examine them regularly for changes, and consult a doctor if there are any changes. Doctors with special training in skin diseases are in the best position to decide whether an abnormal-looking mole should be closely watched or should be removed and checked for cancer. How is melanoma diagnosed?If the doctor suspects that a spot on the skin is melanoma, a biopsy is performed. A biopsy is the only method of making a definite diagnosis. In this procedure, the doctor removes part or all of the suspicious-looking growth. This can usually be done in the doctor''s office using a local anesthetic. A pathologist then examines the tissue under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
If melanoma is found, the doctor needs to learn the extent, or stage, of the disease before planning treatment. The treatment plan takes into account the thickness of the tumor, how deeply the melanoma has invaded the skin, and whether melanoma cells have spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body. Removal of nearby lymph nodes for examination under a microscope is sometimes necessary (such surgery may be considered part of the treatment, since removing cancerous lymph nodes can help control the disease). The doctor will also conduct a thorough physical examination and, depending on the thickness of the tumor, may order chest x-rays, blood tests, and scans of the liver, bones, and brain. What happens after treatment?Melanoma patients have an increased risk of developing new melanomas. Some also are at risk for a recurrence of the original melanoma in nearby skin or in other parts of the body.
To increase the chance that a new melanoma will be detected as early as possible, patients should follow their doctor''s schedule for regular checkups. It is especially important for patients who have dysplastic nevi and a family history of melanoma to have frequent checkups. Patients should also examine their skin monthly (keeping in mind the "ABCD" guidelines) and follow their doctor''s advice about how to reduce their chances of developing another melanoma.
The chance of recurrence is greater for patients whose melanoma was thick or had spread to nearly tissue than for patients with very thin melanomas. Follow-up care for those who have a high risk of recurrence can include x-rays, blood tests, and scans of the liver, bones, and brain. Can melanoma be prevented?Doctors are not able to explain why one person gets melanoma and another does not. However, we do know that this disease is not contagious; no one can "catch" cancer from another person.
Statistics show that the number of people who develop melanoma is increasing. It is believed that the number of melanomas may be increasing mainly because people are spending more time in the sun. It is known that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun causes skin damage that can lead to melanoma. Artificial sources of UV radiation, such as sunlamps and tanning booths, also can cause skin damage.
Scientists have observed that certain factors increase a person''s risk of developing melanoma. Having two or more close relatives who have had this disease is a risk factor because melanoma sometimes runs in families (about 10 percent of all patients with this disease have family members who also have had melanoma). As stated previously, when melanoma runs in a family, family members should be checked regularly by a doctor.
Having dysplastic nevi (atypical moles) is another risk factor for melanoma. Dysplastic nevi are more likely than "ordinary" moles to become cancerous. Many people have only a few of these abnormal moles; the risk of melanoma is greater for people who have a large number of them. Also, there is a higher risk of developing Melanoma in people who have a family history of both dysplastic nevi and melanoma.
Additionally, people who have had one or more severe, blistering sunburns as a child or teenager are at increased risk for melanoma. Because of this, doctors advise protecting children's skin from the sun, which hopefully will help prevent melanoma later in life. Melanoma occurs more frequently in people who have fair skin that burns or freckles easily (these people also usually have red or blond hair and blue eyes) than in people with dark skin. White people contract melanoma far more often than do black people, probably because light skin is more easily damaged by the sun. In addition, this disease is more common in people who live in areas that are exposed to high levels of UV radiation from the sun. To help prevent melanoma, people should avoid exposure to the midday sun (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. standard time, or from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daylight savings time) whenever possible. Wearing a hat and long sleeve clothing also offers protection. Lotions or creams that contain sunscreens rated 15 or higher provide the best protection. Melanoma At-A-Glance
Also see Skin Cancer |
