How does stage 4 melanoma affect the body?

Honor Society of Nursing (STTI)

Stage 4 melanoma is initially caused by the overproduction of certain skin cells called melanocytes, which are the cells that produce skin pigment. 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. Stage 4 melanoma is the fifth and final stage of the skin cancer, so growths have spread from the skin through the regional lymph nodes and into other internal organs. By the time the cancer reaches stage 4, organs are generally too damaged to ever fully recover.

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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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