Overview
Melanoma is a cancer of the skin that develops through melanocytes, the cell responsible for producing melanin. Melanin refers to the pigment that is responsible for the color of your skin, hair, or eyes. Melanoma can occur anywhere on your skin, but the regions most commonly affected include exposed parts such as the back, legs, arms, or face.
Key Pointers:
- Risk Factors: Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or tanning beds increases the chances of developing melanoma.
- Appearance: Melanoma typically appears as a new mole, or change in an already existing mole. It tends to have irregular borders and varied colors and can appear asymmetrical.
- Early Detection: An early diagnosis and treatment usually lead to good results and outcomes and can improve the overall prognosis.
- Aggressive Nature: Melanoma may metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body if not identified and treated early.
Causes and Risk Factors
The primary cause of melanoma is ultraviolet radiation exposure, however, genetic factors and family history also influence the risk of developing this type of skin cancer.
Key Pointers:
- UV Exposure: Intense, intermittent exposure to sunlight, especially to the point of sunburns, increases the risk.
- Skin Type: Melanin is less produced in fair-skinned individuals and thus they are highly vulnerable to UV damage and melanoma.
- Family History: If a close relative is suffering from melanoma, then the chances of developing melanoma are increased.
- Genetic Mutations: Some specific mutations in the BRAF gene increase the risk of developing melanoma.
Signs and Symptoms
Melanoma can appear as a new pigmented lesion or the change in an existing mole. It is important to be attentive to the ABCDEs of melanoma for an early detection:
- A: Asymmetry – One side of the mole is noticeably larger or smaller than the other.
- B: Border – The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.
- C: Color – The mole has an uneven coloration, with shades of brown, black, blue, red, or white.
- D: Diameter – The mole is more than 6 millimeters in diameter, or its diameter is becoming larger.
- E: Evolution – The mole is changing in size, shape, color, or height.
Diagnosis
Melanoma diagnosis often requires a visual inspection by a dermatologist and sometimes a biopsy to verify the existence of cancerous cells.
Key Pointers:
- Visual Examination: Dermatologists use the ABCDE criteria to evaluate moles and skin lesions during mole checks to identify potential melanoma.
- Skin Biopsy Services: A biopsy is the removal of a tissue sample for examination under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis and stage the melanoma.
Treatment
Treatment of melanoma is determined by the stage of the cancer, its location, and the general health of the patient. Early-stage melanomas are treated with surgical excision; advanced melanomas often require more than that.
