What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that forms in melanin cells, which are the cells that give pigment to your skin. It is very serious and can spread to internal organs, making early diagnosis essential to a good prognosis. It often affects existing moles, but sometimes forms new lesions as well.
Causes
Melanoma skin cancer can be caused by a variety of things. A specific cause has not yet been nailed down, but it is commonly believed that excessive exposure to the UV radiation from the sun will increase your chances of developing this disease. This means lying in tanning beds can produce similarly negative effects. Melanoma sometimes appears on parts of the body that are never exposed to the sun. Because of this, it is believed other, unknown factors may be to blame as well.
Warning Signs
Since catching melanomas early is essential to a good prognosis, it's important to know the warning signs of this disease. The most common symptoms include a mole that has changed. These changes are called the ABCDEs and include: a mole that is asymmetrical, a mole that has an irregular border, a mole that changed color, a mole that grew in diameter or a mole that evolves or generally changes in some way. Though areas exposed to the sun are more likely to develop a melanoma, fingernail beds, between the toes and the palms of your hands are also areas at risk.
Treatments
Treating melanoma is much easier in its early stages. For early-stage melanoma, treatment usually involves surgery. It's typically very minor and not invasive. However, later-stage melanomas will require more extensive procedures, including more invasive surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. Usually, these treatments will be combined for the maximum benefit and the greatest chance of recovery.
Prevention
The best way to deal with melanoma is to avoid getting it in the first place. This means staying out of the sun as much as possible and wearing sunscreen whenever you do, paying special attention to your ears, lips, neck and hands. Perform a thorough body scan regularly for new lesions, growths or changing moles. This, combined with a skin exam every year, should help prevent you from developing a melanoma that is allowed to progress to a later stage.
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