Melanoma
The most serious type of skin cancer, melanoma affects the cells that give our skin its color. Although it can spread easily, it is curable when treated early.
This cancer forms when the cells that make melanin grow abnormally or do not die when they should. These cells, called melanocytes, are found in our skin’s outer layer.
Melanoma typically begins in a mole or birthmark but can form in other tissues with pigmentation, such as your eye. When melanoma develops in the eye, it is called Intraocular Melanoma.
Protect yourself by avoiding overexposure from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Stay vigilant of any changes in your skin, especially if you have the skin disease Xeroderma pigmentosum, which makes you sensitive to light. You are also more likely to develop melanoma if someone in your family has been previously diagnosed with this specific type of cancer.
Recently Answered
- Q What causes soft tissue melanoma?
-
Melanoma is a form of cancer that arises from the cells that create pigment in your skin and other parts of your body (melanocytes). The vast majority of melanomas arise in the skin, and while there is a link between ultraviolet light exposure... Full Answer
2 Answers
A
- Q If I've been diagnosed with melanoma what questions should I ask my doctor?
-
Dr. Ellen Marmur, DermatologyAfter a melanoma diagnosis, patients should first ask their doctor how deep their cancer is. In this video, Ellen Marmur, MD, a dermatologist at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, explains why depth is important with melanoma. Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q What does a diagnosis of melanoma mean?
-
Dr. Ellen Marmur, DermatologyMelanoma diagnoses is on the rise, especially in young women. But there are also new treatments, explains Ellen Marmur, MD, a dermatologist at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, in this video. Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q Why is melanoma on the rise?
-
Dr. Ellen Marmur, DermatologyThe rise in melanoma skin cancers may be caused by lifestyle choices or environmental reasons, says Ellen Marmur, MD, a dermatologist at The Mount Sinai Medical Center. In this video, Dr. Marmur discusses this epidemic. Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q What can I do at home to prevent melanoma?
-
Dr. Ellen Marmur, DermatologyIf you want to prevent melanoma, start by buying sunscreen. Use it everyday and inspect your body for changes. In this video, Ellen Marmur, MD, a dermatologist at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, offers more tips on how to prevent melanoma. Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q Why do we use the term epidemic with melanoma?
-
Dr. Ellen Marmur, DermatologyThe number of melanoma diagnoses has increased substantially, but doctors don't know exactly why. In this video, Ellen Marmur, MD, a dermatologist at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, discusses why the term epidemic is applied to melanoma. Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q How can I help my child reduce the risk of melanoma?
-
It's never too early to start protecting your children against sun damage, and if you are the parent of a young girl this message is especially important."Even one blistering sunburn can increase your risk of skin cancer. As few as five sunburns can... Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q Why is melanoma the most common form of cancer in young adults?
-
Dr. Ellen Marmur, DermatologyMelanoma is the most common form of cancer in people aged 25 to 29 and second (to Hodgkin's lymphoma) in adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 29. A new study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, reports that melanoma rates in young... Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q Can children get melanoma?
-
Dr. Stuart Linder, Plastic & Reconstructive SurgeryUnfortunately, even childhood melanoma can occur and is on the Rise. This may be associated with a depletion of the ozone layer. According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 500 children per year are diagnosed with pediatric melanoma. This... Full Answer
2 Answers
A
- Q What determines how deep melanoma is?
-
The Clark levels are used to describe how deep the melanoma has spread into the skin: • Level I: The cancer is in the epidermis only. • Level II: The cancer has begun to spread into the papillary... Full Answer
1 Answer
A
