Melanoma is caused by the overproduction of certain skin cells called melanocytes. This cell overgrowth usually starts on an existing mole on the skin or as a new skin growth. Generally, these growths are found in areas of skin that are exposed to sunlight, although they may be found in other parts of the body, including internal mucous membranes like those found in the esophagus and urinary tract. If left untreated, melanoma can spread rapidly to other parts of the body, so it is considered one of the more serious types of skin cancer.
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.
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Sigma Nursing answeredSee All 2 AnswersSymptoms of melanoma are growths on the skin. These growths usually appear as a change in a mole that you already have or as a new skin growth. Generally, they're found on skin that's exposed to the sun, but they can form anywhere on the skin, including under fingernails and even internally. Normal moles usually have smooth edges, are symmetrical, and have a uniform color, so if you notice a mole that doesn't fit those characteristics, you should see a doctor. Other symptoms of melanoma include itchiness, scaliness, or oozing. Since symptoms vary from person to person, it's important to see a doctor if you think you may have melanoma.
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For stage IV metastatic melanoma, life expectancy is around 8 to 10 months. In this video, Philip Friedlander, MD, an oncologist at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, discusses survivability rates for melanoma.
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RealAge answeredSee All 3 AnswersCharacteristics of melanomas include:
- Melanomas are black, irregular, asymmetric, growing, and have a rough border. They are especially common on women’s legs—it’s the second most common cancer in women ages twenty to twenty-nine. Risk rises if a parent or sibling has had it.
- Among African-Americans and some other ethnic groups, most likely to appear in non-sun-exposed areas: on the palms, soles of the feet, mucous membranes, and under fingernails and toenails. (Bob Marley died of melanoma that started on the sole of his foot and spread to his brain.) Melanomas can also form in the eye and the gut.
- If it’s detected and treated early, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent. If it’s allowed to spread to other places in the body, the survival rate decreases rapidly.
From The Mind-Beauty Connection: 9 Days to Less Stress, Gorgeous Skin, and a Whole New You by Amy Wechsler.
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Sigma Nursing answered
Amelanotic melanoma is a type of melanoma, which is a skin cancer. Like most melanomas, amelanotic melanoma is related to the cells that make melanin, which is the protective pigment that gives skin color. However, unlike other types of melanoma that cause dark, mole-like growths, the irregularly-shaped growths caused by amelanotic melanoma usually have no color (hence the name "amelanotic," or without melanin), or are pink, white, or flesh-colored. This can make treatment difficult since people often ignore these seemingly non-threatening lesions until the disease has already progressed quite far. Any type of melanoma may have amelanotic lesions.
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Sigma Nursing answered
Treatment for stage 4 melanoma is usually more aggressive than earlier stages, because the cancer has spread from the original site. Treatment may involve surgical removal of the growth and the lymph nodes in the nearby area, as well as removal of other melanomas. However, this won't get rid of all the cancer. Doctors may recommend other treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy (using the body's immune system to fight cancer cells), or targeted therapy (targeting cancer cells by their particular genetic makeup), all of which which can help kill cancerous cells that have spread to other parts of the body. Side effects of these treatments can be harsh, and their success may depend on several factors, such as age and overall condition. Clinical trials may be recommended. Palliative care may be recommended as well, to improve quality of life if intervention is not expected to help.
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Sigma Nursing answered
Treatment options for uveal melanoma depend on several factors, including the size and location of the tumor and the age of the person affected. A tiny tumor may require watchful waiting, monitoring the progress of the disease to see if it requires intervention. But the most common treatment is surgery. The type of surgery depends on the severity of the cancer. If the tumor is small, doctors will remove just the growth and a little bit of the surrounding tissue. If the tumor is larger, or causing complications like glaucoma, doctors may have to remove the entire eye, and in some cases, the eyelid and surrounding nerves and muscles.
Other types of treatment may be used to try to kill cancerous cells. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays directed toward the growth to destroy the cancerous cells. Photocoagulation uses a laser to destroy tumors. Thermotherapy uses heat in the form of ultrasound, microwaves or lasers to kill the melanoma cells. Targeted therapy uses chemicals designed specifically to target cancer cells by their genes. Some patients may take part in clinical trials in which new treatment options are explored.