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Melanoma is a deadly skin cancer that can be treated if caught early. Risk factors include pale skin, sun exposure, and family history. Surgery is the primary treatment, but metastatic melanoma has a low survival rate. Prevention includes avoiding sun exposure and using sunscreen.
Cutaneous melanoma, more commonly known simply as melanoma, is a cancer of skin cells called melanocytes. These are pigment-producing cells located primarily in the skin, with small numbers of melanocytes also found in the ears, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, and mucous membranes. Melanoma of the skin is the cause of most skin cancer deaths, but it can be treated effectively if diagnosed before the cancer has spread from its point of origin. The most effective ways to fight melanoma are the preventative measures of avoiding prolonged sun exposure, sunburn and heavy tanning, and using sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors.
One of the most common warning signs of melanoma is changes in existing skin lesions. The changes that can occur are defined by the ABCDE criteria. The first three criteria are asymmetry, where the two halves of the lesion do not match; border irregularity, where the edges of the lesion are jagged rather than smooth; and color variegation, where the pigmentation of the lesion is not the same across its surface. The fourth criterion is diameter, which refers to the fact that most cutaneous melanoma lesions are larger than about a quarter of an inch (6 mm) in diameter. The fifth criterion is evolving, which means that the appearance of malignant melanoma lesions changes over time.
There are several risk factors for skin melanoma. People with pale skin, blonde hair, light eyes, or a tendency to freckle after sun exposure have an increased risk of skin cancer. The risk is further increased when there is a family history of melanoma. The role of sun exposure in the development of melanoma is not fully understood, but excessive sun exposure in childhood is known to be a risk factor, particularly if you suffer one or more sunburns. Intensive use of tanning beds or sunlamps is also thought to increase the risk of melanoma.
The primary treatment for cutaneous melanoma is surgical removal of the malignant skin lesion. Where the skin lesion is superficial and deep, this can often be done as an outpatient procedure at a clinic or hospital. Until the cancer has spread from its point of origin, surgical removal is sufficient to cure the disease. If the melanoma lesion is more than 0.4 mm (1 inch) deep, however, there is a possibility that the cancer has spread to the nearest lymph node. In such cases, a biopsy is performed to determine if this has occurred.
Unfortunately, when the cancer has spread from the initial lesion to one or more lymph nodes, additional treatment such as chemotherapy is rarely successful. Metastatic melanoma is fatal for most people, with a five-year survival rate of less than 20%. Treatment with immune-boosting cytokines such as interferon-alpha and interleukin-2 has been shown to be effective for some patients, but the prognosis remains poor for people with metastatic melanoma.
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