Melanoma - Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

To understand what melanoma is, we must understand some other terms.  Melanin is the brown or black pigment seen in the hair, skin and part of the eye.  It's transferred from melanocytes, normal cells in the skin, into nearby hair and skin cells.  Concentrated areas of pigment or color on a person's skin are moles.
 
Melanoma is a form of cancer which forms from the melanocytes.  Melanoma is considered the most dangerous kind of skin cancer.  Less serious forms of he disease include squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.
 
Most types of melanoma are found on the skin, although it can also occur in the anal canal, vagina, rectum, or in the eye.  It's estimated that in 2008, an estimated 62,480 instances of invasive melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S.  This will account for five percent of all new cancers diagnosed in men and four percent of those diagnosed in women.  For 30 years, the number of cases of melanoma diagnosed each year has been increasing.
 
Risk factors that raise a person's chances of getting melanoma include having a fair complexion, a history of getting sun-burnt, prolonged exposure to either the sun or artificial ultraviolet light, multiple moles, a family history of skin cancer, and older age.  Obviously, since as we age, we're in the sun more often, our risk of getting melanoma increases.  Also, a person's chances of getting the cancer is 2.24 times greater if you have a first-degree relative who has had the diagnoses in the past.  For this reason, it's essential to know of your family history.
 
There are certain kinds of moles that are associated with a greater incidence of melanoma.  These moles are called dysplastic melanoma. The moles are usually rather large (with a diameter greater than five millimeters) and have uneven borders and pigmentation. Having a single such mole is linked with a two-fold increased chance of developing melanoma; having 10 or more such "nevi" is associated with a 12-fold increased chance of developing it.
 
People who have fair skin, those who freckle and burn easily, and those with light eyes all have a higher risk.  Caucasians are 20 times more likely to develop melanoma than blacks, because dark-skinned people have a natural sun protection factor and are able to filter more UV rays. However, in some cases, even dark-skinned people do develop the disease.
 
Everyone should understand this:  Tanned skin is unhealthy skin, and should be avoided.
 
The best form of prevention against melanoma is to protect your skin from exposure to the sun.  This includes avoiding the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., wearing protective clothing while in the sun (including a hat), and using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more everyday--even winter time. 
 
Also, it's important to examine your skin regularly, staying conscious of moles and their shapes and color.  Melanoma will often develop from an existing mole. As it does, it will cause the mole's appearance to change. Examine your entire body, including feet, scalp and nail beds.  As you examine moles, keep in mind "ABCDE." 
 
"A" stands for asymmetry.  This means, if you cut the mole in half, would one side look like the other? If not, it's a concern.  "B" stands for border irregularity. It's a concern if the border is blurry or uneven.  "C" stands for color.  Watch for any change from the color the mole has had in the past.  "D" stands for diameter.  If the mole has changed its size, especially those bigger than 6 millimeters, you should have it checked.  "E" stands for evolution.  This means watch for a mole that changes over time, in shape, color or elevation.
 
Melanoma is normally treated by surgery--known as a "wide excision."  This is a procedure which removes an area of tissue around the location of the lesion.  The deeper the melanoma goes, the more tissue that is removed.
 
Some patients with more advanced melanoma are offered treatment via radiation therapy, vaccine therapies and immunotherapy.  Radiation therapy involves shooting high-energy x-rays at the melanoma, and can be utilized for treating an area believed at risk for a recurrence of the cancer.  In some cases, an immunotherapy agent such as interferon, GM-CSF, interleukin-2, or Bacille Calmette Guerin is used to help stimulate the patient's immune system in the fight against the cancer.
 
Finally, in some cases, in which tumors are confined to a single limb, the circulation to the limb is cut off as the medical staff administers a high dose of chemotherapy medication to that limb.