|  | Cancer | Skin Cancer

Malignant Melanoma Skin Cancer

There are certain types of people, depending on their race, age and gender, who are at risk of getting skin cancer. Non-melanomas pose fewer risks and can be easily treated. Malignant melanomas are far more serious cases but early detection can lessen the harmful effects. Daily protection from the sun at an early age can lead to healthier cancer-free skin in the future.

  1. Facts on Skin Cancer

    • The American Cancer Society reports that most cases of skin cancer are related to sun exposure. Non-melanoma cancers are found in the outer layers of the commonly exposed areas of skin such as the shoulders, neck, face and lips. Growth can be either fast or slow but it spreads to other parts of the body on rare occasions. Melanoma, on the other hand, is the serious form of skin cancer. It attacks melanocytes, affecting the production of melanin, which makes the skin tan. Early detection can decrease its risk of being fatal. The chances of skin cancer on fair-skinned people are higher than dark-skinned ones because of the amount of melanin in their skin.

    Significance

    • Detection of malignant melanoma skin cancer is vital to its eradication. Most skin cancers are not dangerous but melanomas spread to other parts of the body fast. Early signs of malignant melanomas are beneficial to the patient's chances of survival. Occurrence of melanomas is not as common as non-melanoma skin cancers but it has more serious implications.

    Types of Malignant Melanomas

    • There are four types of malignant melanomas in the skin. The most common is superficial spreading melanoma, occurring more in middle-aged people. Areas usually affected are legs in women and the back for men. Nodular melanoma has a growth or bump and can be very dark brown or black. Older people develop lentigo maligna melanoma particularly on the face at a slow rate. Lastly, acral melanoma is found on hands or on soles or toenails.

    Causes and Risk Factors

    • The development of malignant melanomas is linked to many risk factors. Prolonged exposure to the sun's harmful UV rays increases the chances for melanomas to occur later in life. A mole in itself is benign but it can grow into full-blown melanomas. Furthermore, the number of moles in one's body can also heighten the likelihood for melanomas. Age, gender and color of skin can determine if one is at risk for skin cancer conditions. Melanomas are more rare among women than in men. Younger people are less likely to develop malignant melanomas. Having fair skin also makes one a common candidate for melanomas, if not skin cancer in general. Other factors like cancer history in the family and weak immune systems round up the list.

    Prevention/Solution

    • How can one be safe from melanomas? If exposure to sunlight cannot be avoided, wear hats and protective clothing. Stay indoors as much as possible when the sun is at its peak. When outdoors, protect the skin with sun-block creams on a daily basis. For suspicious-looking moles or skin tumors, a visit to the doctor can detect a malignancy.
      Early stages of melanoma manifest on the top layers of the skin, thus removal through surgery is the immediate solution. If biopsy results show malignant melanoma, more skin tissue in the area will be examined to ensure all cancer cells are removed. If malignant melanomas have spread, surgery is no longer an option. The patient is suggested to have other treatment methods like chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy.

Skin Cancer - Related Articles