Melanoma is a rare and dangerous form of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. It is more common in fair-skinned people who have had sunburns in childhood. Basal cell carcinoma is a more common and less dangerous form of skin cancer. Daily use of sunscreen and early detection can help prevent and treat skin cancer.
Malignant melanoma is a cancer of the pigment-producing skin cells. Pigment cells are found throughout the dermis (skin) and provide the skin’s color. Pigment cells are more concentrated in moles. When one of these pigment cells becomes malignant, it produces a tumor called melanoma. Melanomas can appear anywhere; in parts of the skin that used to appear normal or moles that have been there for a long time.
Melanoma is often called skin cancer because it arises from skin cells. This definition is not entirely correct, as melanoma differs from typical skin cancer in two respects. Not only is melanoma quite rare, but it can metastasize to other parts of the body, which typical skin cancers don’t normally do. Because of this tendency to spread, patients with melanoma are usually referred to specialists for treatment.
What is usually meant by the term “skin cancer” is a common cancer called basal cell carcinoma. These types of cancers tend not to spread and are usually treated with simple treatments such as excision (surgery) or cryosurgery (freezing).
While the exact cause is unknown, melanoma occurs more often in fair-skinned people whose skin burns easily. Melanoma is thought to occur more frequently in people who received a series of sunburns in childhood.
Melanoma is not contagious and cannot be transmitted by physical contact. However, due to their genetic makeup or inherited skin coloring, children of melanoma patients tend to have a slightly elevated risk of developing melanoma.
As melanoma spreads, some of its malignant cells invade local blood vessels or lymph vessels, which carry lymph fluid to lymph node groups. If malignant cells invade the lymph vessels, their fluid can carry them to the lymph nodes. If malignant cells invade blood vessels, they can be carried by blood to distant parts of the body.
As melanoma spreads, the most likely site for its recurrence is in the lymph nodes closest to the site of the original tumor. For example, if the primary melanoma was on the arm, the closest lymph nodes would be in the armpit. If the primary tumor was on the leg, the closest nodes would be the groin; for the head, adjacent lymph nodes are in the neck. For a primary melanoma on the trunk, the next lymph nodes would be the groin or armpit.
In 2002, a staging system for malignant melanoma was developed.
Stage I: Large primary melanoma without ulceration, no lymph node involvement, and no metastases (secondary tumors).
Stage II: Primary melanomas that are slightly larger but also free from ulceration, lymph node involvement, or metastases.
Stage III: Lymph node metastases, or metastases/satellites in transit, without distant metastases.
Stage IV: distant metastasis. Melanomas that progress to this stage are often fatal.
As the ozone layer is destroyed, more harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays reach the skin. Daily use of a sunscreen of at least sun protection factor (SPF) 15 can help prevent certain skin cancers and premature skin aging.
It is important for everyone to be aware of their skin and notice any changes such as small pearly bumps, spots that refuse to heal, or changes in moles, and seek medical attention at the first sign of such changes.
Many skin cancers have a high cure rate if diagnosed early enough.
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