MELANOMA AND IT'S TREATMENT
Melanoma and its Treatment
Melanoma is the most serious and deadly type of skin cancer. Melanoma develops in the cells, which produce melanin. Melanin is the pigment, which gives your skin its color. It can also form in your eyes and rarely in the internal organs such as intestines. The exact cause for the melanomas is unknown, but exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or tanning lamps increases the risk of developing the melanoma.
Avoiding, excessive sun light exposure may prevent the melanomas. It may also appear as a new mole, which may be black in color, and abnormal or ugly look. Melanomas can be treated successfully, if detected at an early stage. Advanced melanoma can spread to lymph nodes as well as the other body parts like lungs, liver and brain.
Signs and Symptoms of the Melanoma:-
Usually, melanoma occurs on the skin area which is often exposed to the sun, but it can be found anywhere on the body, such as eye, mouth and genital area.
1. Melanoma in women is most likely to develop on the legs and arms
2. Melanoma in men is most likely to develop on the head, neck and trunk
Following is the helpful tool, which will aid you to identify the mole, which can result in melanoma. You can do this with the help of ABCDE checklist.
Asymmetry- Half of the mole does not look like the other half.
Border- The border of the mole is irregular
Color- More than one color can be seen in the mole such as black, red, blue , brown and white
Diameter- A Diameter is mole is about 6mm or ¼ inch.
Evolving – Always look for the changes in the mole.
Causes and Risk Factors for Melanoma:-
Following are the factors, which can increase your risk for skin cancer, or melanomas are.
Fair skin :- The decrease of pigment in your skin increases the risk factors for skin cancer. Since, it leads to less resistance or protection from the UV radiation.
If you have red hair or light colored eyes and you have freckle or sunburn easily than you are more likely to develop melanoma as compared to the darker complexion people. The highest rates of skin cancer are found in Australia.
Family history of melanoma:- Some times, melanoma also runs in the families. If two or more close relatives have this disease then it can be a risk factor. Near about 10% of the patient with the melanoma have a family member of this disease. If any one the family member have a melanoma, all the family member should check regularly with a doctor for melanoma.
Excessive sun exposure:- Excessive exposure to the sun is the leading cause of all skin cancer including melanoma
Sunny or high altitude climates:- When you live in a sunny climate, it tends to expose you more to the UV radiation, as compared to the person living in the cool or cloudy climate.
Moles:- If you have a single dysplastic mole, it doubles your risk of melanoma. Having more than 50 ordinary moles increases your chance of skin cancer.
A history of sun burn:- Each time when you burn your skin, you increase your chance of skin cancer. People, who have experienced at least one severe blistering sunburn as a child or teenager, are at the highest risk of melanoma. Therefore, doctors always advice parents to protect their children from sunburn, such protection may reduce the risk of melanoma later in life. Sunburn in adulthood can also be a great risk factor for melanoma
Weakened immune system:- People with a weak immune system are also at a greater risk of melanoma. Immune system can get weak because of certain cancers, drugs, organ transplantation or by HIV
Rare genetic disorder:- People with a genetic disorder i.e. xeroderma pigmentosum causes an extreme sensitivity to the sunlight resulting in a greater risk of developing melanomas. This people also do not have any ability to repair the damages to skin from UV light.
Diagnosis Test for Melanoma:-
Usually, doctors use many tests to diagnose melanoma. Some test also determines which treatment will be best or effective for the particular disease. For melanoma, a biopsy can be the best option to diagnosis for cancer. Doctors can also suggest for other tests, it includes.
1. Sentinel Lymph node biopsy
2. X-ray
3. Blood tests
4. Ultra sound
5. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
6. Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan
7. Positron emission tomography scan(PET)
Treatments and Drugs:-
The best and effective treatment for you depends exclusively on the stage of cancer and your age, current health status and personal preference.
Treating early stage melanomas:-
The best treatment for early stage melanomas is surgery. A very thin layer of melanoma is removed during the biopsy and thereafter there is no requirement of any further treatment. In majority of cases, this process eliminates the prospect of skin cancer.
Treating the Melanomas which have spread beyond the skin:-
If the melanoma has spread beyond the skin, the treatment options for this skin cancer may include.
1. Surgical removal
2. Chemotherapy
3. Radiation therapy
4. Biological therapy
The fact is that majority of the skin cancer including melanoma can be avoided or prevented by taking little precautions and care of yourselves. If you found any of the above symptoms or risk factors of melanoma, do consult your doctor for an effective treatment.
Melanoma is the most serious and deadly type of skin cancer. Melanoma develops in the cells, which produce melanin. Melanin is the pigment, which gives your skin its color. It can also form in your eyes and rarely in the internal organs such as intestines. The exact cause for the melanomas is unknown, but exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or tanning lamps increases the risk of developing the melanoma.
Avoiding, excessive sun light exposure may prevent the melanomas. It may also appear as a new mole, which may be black in color, and abnormal or ugly look. Melanomas can be treated successfully, if detected at an early stage. Advanced melanoma can spread to lymph nodes as well as the other body parts like lungs, liver and brain.
Signs and Symptoms of the Melanoma:-
Usually, melanoma occurs on the skin area which is often exposed to the sun, but it can be found anywhere on the body, such as eye, mouth and genital area.
1. Melanoma in women is most likely to develop on the legs and arms
2. Melanoma in men is most likely to develop on the head, neck and trunk
Following is the helpful tool, which will aid you to identify the mole, which can result in melanoma. You can do this with the help of ABCDE checklist.
Asymmetry- Half of the mole does not look like the other half.
Border- The border of the mole is irregular
Color- More than one color can be seen in the mole such as black, red, blue , brown and white
Diameter- A Diameter is mole is about 6mm or ¼ inch.
Evolving – Always look for the changes in the mole.
Causes and Risk Factors for Melanoma:-
Following are the factors, which can increase your risk for skin cancer, or melanomas are.
Fair skin :- The decrease of pigment in your skin increases the risk factors for skin cancer. Since, it leads to less resistance or protection from the UV radiation.
If you have red hair or light colored eyes and you have freckle or sunburn easily than you are more likely to develop melanoma as compared to the darker complexion people. The highest rates of skin cancer are found in Australia.
Family history of melanoma:- Some times, melanoma also runs in the families. If two or more close relatives have this disease then it can be a risk factor. Near about 10% of the patient with the melanoma have a family member of this disease. If any one the family member have a melanoma, all the family member should check regularly with a doctor for melanoma.
Excessive sun exposure:- Excessive exposure to the sun is the leading cause of all skin cancer including melanoma
Sunny or high altitude climates:- When you live in a sunny climate, it tends to expose you more to the UV radiation, as compared to the person living in the cool or cloudy climate.
Moles:- If you have a single dysplastic mole, it doubles your risk of melanoma. Having more than 50 ordinary moles increases your chance of skin cancer.
A history of sun burn:- Each time when you burn your skin, you increase your chance of skin cancer. People, who have experienced at least one severe blistering sunburn as a child or teenager, are at the highest risk of melanoma. Therefore, doctors always advice parents to protect their children from sunburn, such protection may reduce the risk of melanoma later in life. Sunburn in adulthood can also be a great risk factor for melanoma
Weakened immune system:- People with a weak immune system are also at a greater risk of melanoma. Immune system can get weak because of certain cancers, drugs, organ transplantation or by HIV
Rare genetic disorder:- People with a genetic disorder i.e. xeroderma pigmentosum causes an extreme sensitivity to the sunlight resulting in a greater risk of developing melanomas. This people also do not have any ability to repair the damages to skin from UV light.
Diagnosis Test for Melanoma:-
Usually, doctors use many tests to diagnose melanoma. Some test also determines which treatment will be best or effective for the particular disease. For melanoma, a biopsy can be the best option to diagnosis for cancer. Doctors can also suggest for other tests, it includes.
1. Sentinel Lymph node biopsy
2. X-ray
3. Blood tests
4. Ultra sound
5. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
6. Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan
7. Positron emission tomography scan(PET)
Treatments and Drugs:-
The best and effective treatment for you depends exclusively on the stage of cancer and your age, current health status and personal preference.
Treating early stage melanomas:-
The best treatment for early stage melanomas is surgery. A very thin layer of melanoma is removed during the biopsy and thereafter there is no requirement of any further treatment. In majority of cases, this process eliminates the prospect of skin cancer.
Treating the Melanomas which have spread beyond the skin:-
If the melanoma has spread beyond the skin, the treatment options for this skin cancer may include.
1. Surgical removal
2. Chemotherapy
3. Radiation therapy
4. Biological therapy
The fact is that majority of the skin cancer including melanoma can be avoided or prevented by taking little precautions and care of yourselves. If you found any of the above symptoms or risk factors of melanoma, do consult your doctor for an effective treatment.
Comments