Melanoma Basics

                            Understanding melanoma may save your life.

                             

What is Melanoma?	New! "The Sunny Truth Can Hurt" Overview of melanoma and what you can do to protect yourself
Myth vs. Fact
Frequently Asked Questions
Glossary of Terms

Melanoma is a cancer of the pigment-producing cells of the skin called "melanocytes."

One person dies every hour from melanoma.

Myth:

Fact:

Melanoma is not just confined to the skin.  It can spread to other areas of the body such as the lymph nodes, brain, lungs, liver and bones.  This secondary spread is called metastatic melanoma.

Myth:

Fact:

While sun safe practices reduce your risk, there are other risk factors of melanoma such as family history, genetics, skin, hair and eye color, and the number of moles on your body.

Myth:

Fact:

Myth:

Fact:

One type of melanoma occurs most frequently in African Americans and Asians, developing on the palms, soles and nail beds.

Myth:

It’s a mole, I’ve had it forever and it’s never been a problem.

Fact:

Moles can change.  Contact a dermatologist if you detect any of the following changes:

• increase in the size of a pre-existing mole;

• change in shape of a pre-existing mole, particularly irregular borders;

• change in color of a pre-existing mole, including a darkening, loss of color, or the development of a red area;

• any unusual oozing or bleeding from a pre-existing mole;

• halo formation around a pre-existing mole;

• itching, tenderness or (less commonly) pain from a pre-existing mole;

• any unusual sore, lump, blemish, scaling, or marking;

• appearance of a new mole in previously normal, unpigmented skin; or,

• any new or suspicious lesion.

Melanoma is classified in four Stages, determined by how deeply the cancer cell have penetrated the body.

Yes, Stage 0 is less dangerous and easier to treat, and each higher stage is progressively more serious.

Surgery is the most common treatment for melanoma, especially for Stages 0 – 3.  Other treatments are also added as needed, and include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of the three

The ABCDE’s can be helpful in identifying suspicious moles. Contact you dermatologist if you notice any of the following:

A – Asymmetry: when one half of the mole doesn’t match the other half;

B – Border: when the border or edges to the mole are ragged, blurred or irregular;

C – Color: when the color of the mole is not the same throughout or if it has shades of tan, brown, black, red, white, or blue;

D- Diameter: when the diameter of a mole is larger than 6mm, about the size of a pencil eraser; or,

E – Elevation & enlargement – the mole is raised or elevated above the skin or there is a history of increase in the size of a mole.

Yes, if it is not caught early.  Once melanoma has metastasized it is difficult to control.  One person every hour dies from melanoma.

The risk of recurrence depends on a number of things:

• the thickness of the primary tumor, thicker tumors carry a greater risk than thin tumors;
• the presence of ulceration in the primary tumor; and,
•  the presence of satellite metastases surrounding the primary tumor.

While unprotected exposure to the sun is the most important known risk factor, melanoma may also appear in the skin that is not exposed to the sun.

Certain types of moles called atypical, may also be linked to melanoma.  These moles may run in the family and my also turn into or serve as markers for individuals at high risk.

Birthmarks or congenital moles may develop into melanoma, therefore should be watched closely.

Get examined by an experienced professional such as a board certified dermatologist. Your doctor most likely do a biopsy to determine whether or not it is a skin cancer or melanoma and what further treatment is necessary.

Melanoma can be cured if it is diagnosed and treated when the tumor is thin and has not deeply invaded the skin. The key is early detection and treatment.

Melanoma patients have a high risk of reoccurrence of the disease. Depending upon the stage of the disease it is suggested that the patient be evaluated between 1 and 4 times a year for the first two years and then 1 to 2 times per year thereafter.