Melanoma is skin cancer produced by a malignant change in melanocytes. Though not the most common type among dermatological cancers, this is often the most severe because it spreads to other regions as well [1]. When melanoma spreads to other areas, it becomes one of the most challenging cancers to treat, and the prognosis is often poor. Risk factors for melanoma include:

• Overexposure to the sun
• Having fair skin
• Family history of melanoma

 

Melanoma has the highest mortality rate among all dermatological cancers. It is one of the most common cancers among young adults. It develops in the melanocytes (cells producing melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color)

 

What are the Symptoms of Melanoma?

Following are the few important symptoms of melanoma [2]:

• Skin changes, with the appearance of a new spot or mole that is evolving with changes in its shape, size, diameter, and color.
• A skin sore that fails to heal overtime
• A firm lump that may get ulcerated in time
• Spot or sore that begin to bleed

 

 

What are the Types of Melanoma?

There are four major types of melanoma [3]:

• Superficial spreading melanoma
• Nodular melanoma
• Lentigo maligna melanoma
• Acral lentiginous

 

 

 

What Causes a Melanoma?

Following are the common causes of melanoma:

·Exposure to UV light:

Melanoma occurs when skins cells start abnormal development. Most melanomas are thought to have been caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight, damaging the DNA in the skin cells, thus increasing your risk of developing melanoma. Limiting your exposure to UV radiation can help reduce your risk of melanoma.

• Artificial sources of light (Tanning beds and sunlamps)
• Repeated sunburns (either directly through sunlight or artificial sources)

 

What are the Risk Factors for developing Melanoma?

Following  are some common risk factors [4]:

• Exposure to sunlight
• Indoor tanning
• Moles
• Pale complexion
• Age
• Race or ethnicity
• The weakened or suppressed immune system
• Family history

 

 

What are the Treatment Options?

Depending upon the severity and location of the disease, surgical, medical, and radiotherapy treatment can be provided to the patients [5].

Surgical procedures:

• Wide excision: The main course of treatment of melanoma is the surgical removal of the cancer cells. The extent of surgery depends upon the thickness of the melanoma.

 

• Lymph node dissection: After confirming the presence of cancer cells in the lymph node, a sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure is performed to surgically remove the part of the lymph node or complete lymph node depending upon the extent of spread.

 

Radiation therapy:

Radiation therapy is a procedure that uses high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells. Sometimes, radiation therapy is recommended after surgery to prevent cancer recurrence.

Medications:

Following types of systemic therapies are available for the treatment of melanoma:

• Immunotherapy: Boosts the body’s natural defense system to fight cancer.
• Targeted therapy: This therapy targets specific genes, proteins, or various factors responsible for the survival and growth of cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells.

 

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470409/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481857/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4934490/
4. https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/ol.2018.9737
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK74532/

---

Find articles related to: Medicine Telehealth Health skincancer metastasis malignancy


More articles about Skin & Esthetics

Back to the Health Tips Index