Transcript Malignant Melanoma

Melanoma
is a cancer that develops in melanocytes, the
pigment cells present in the skin. It can be more serious
than the other forms of skin cancer because it may spread
to other parts of the body (metastasize) and cause serious
illness and death. About 50,000 new cases of melanoma are
diagnosed in the United States every year.
Because most melanomas occur on the skin where they can
be seen, patients themselves are often the first to detect
many melanomas. Early detection and diagnosis are crucial.
Caught early, most melanomas can be cured with relatively
minor surgery.
Don’t wait!
Melanoma is a disease in which
malignant (cancer) cells form in the skin
cells called melanocytes (cells that color
the skin).
Melanocytes are found throughout the
lower part of the epidermis. They make
melanin, the pigment that gives skin its
natural color. When skin is exposed to
the sun, melanocytes make more
pigment, causing the skin to tan, or
darken.
Malignant Melanoma
Stages of Melanoma
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Stage Description Stage 1
(in situ) Melanoma is confined to the epidermis (top
layer of skin). Stage I Melanoma is confined to the skin,
but has grown thicker. It can be as thick as 1.0
millimeter. In stage IA, the skin covering the melanoma
remains intact. In stage IB, the skin covering the
melanoma has broken open (ulcerated).
Stage II Melanoma has grown thicker. The thickness
ranges from 1.01 millimeters to greater than 4.0
millimeters. The skin covering the melanoma may have
broken open (ulcerated). While thick, the cancer has not
spread.
Stage III Melanoma has spread to either: 1) one or more
nearby lymph node (often called lymph gland) or 2)
nearby skin.
Stage IV Melanoma has spread to an internal organ,
lymph nodes further from the original melanoma, or is
found on the skin far from the orignal melanoma.
Signs? Symptoms??
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The most common early signs (what you see) of melanoma are:
Growing mole on your skin.
Unusual looking mole on your skin or a mole that does not look
like any other mole on your skin (the ugly duckling).
Non-uniform mole (has an odd shape, uneven or uncertain border,
different colors).
Symptoms of melanoma
In the early stages, melanoma may not cause any symptoms (what
you feel). But sometimes melanoma will:
Itch
Bleed
Feel painful
Many melanomas have these signs and symptoms, but not all.
There are actually different types of melanoma. One type can first
appear as a brown or black streak underneath a fingernail or
toenail. Melanoma also can look like a bruise that just won’t heal.
If this sounds like you, get checked out ASAP!
ABCD’s of Melanoma
Causes?!
What causes melanoma?
 Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major
contributor in most cases. We get UV
radiation from the sun, tanning beds,
and sun lamps. Heredity also plays a
role. Research shows that if a close
blood relative (parent, child, sibling,
aunt, uncle) had melanoma, a person
has a much greater risk of getting
melanoma.
But ..wait!
A cure for melanoma isn’t just one easy
step.
If you tan, stop. Tanning outdoors, using tanning beds,
and sitting under sun lamps are not safe. Research shows
indoor tanning increases a person's melanoma risk by 75%.
And forget about getting a base tan before going on a
tropical vacation. A base tan will not protect you. It just
increases your risk for getting skin cancer.
A tan is not a sign of good health. It is a sign that you have damaged your skin.
Finding melanoma
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Finding melanoma early is important. When melanoma is found early and treated, it is almost 100% curable.
This is true even if you have had melanoma. If melanoma spreads, it can be deadly.
Here is what you can do to find melanoma early:
Check your skin for signs of skin cancer. To help people find melanoma early, the American Academy of
Dermatology created the body mole map, which:
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Illustrates how to examine your skin.
 Shows you what to look for (ABCDEs of melanoma).
 Gives you a place to write down where your moles appear on your body.
When examining your skin, be sure to check your scalp, feet, nails, and genital area. Melanoma can appear
on parts of the body that people do not think to check. And check your scalp, palms, soles, fingernails, and
toenails. Melanoma can appear under a nail. Beneath a nail, the most common early warning sign of
melanoma is a brown to black-colored nail streak.
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Another early warning sign is a spot that looks like a bruise. The bruise may fade and then come back.
Make an appointment to see a dermatologist. If you find a mole or growth on your skin that is growing,
unusual, bleeding or not like the rest, you should see a dermatologist.
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Get a free skin cancer screening. The American Academy of Dermatology offers free skin cancer screenings
throughout the United States. Most free screenings happen in the spring.
If you do not find a screening in your area, you can sign up to receive an email that lets you know when the
next free screening will take place in your area.
Prevention!
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Primary prevention consists of limiting
exposure to sunlight and using
sunscreens. Light-skinned persons
should be informed of the importance of
limiting sun exposure and avoiding
sunburns; this advice is particularly
important for children and teenagers.
How Do Dermatologists Treat Melanoma?
The type of treatment a patient receives depends on the following:
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How deeply the melanoma has grown into the skin
Whether the melanoma has spread to other parts of the body
The patient’s health
The following describes treatment used for melanoma.
Surgery: When treating melanoma, doctors want to remove all of the cancer. When the cancer has
not spread, it is often possible for a dermatologist to remove the melanoma during an office visit. The
patient often remains awake during the surgical procedures described below. These procedures are
used to remove skin cancer:
Excision: To perform this, the dermatologist numbs the skin. Then, the dermatologist surgically cuts
out the melanoma and some of the normal-looking skin around the melanoma. This normal-looking
skin is called a margin. There are different types of excision. Most of the time, this can be performed
in a dermatologist’s office.
Mohs surgery: A dermatologist who has completed additional medical training in Mohs surgery
performs this procedure. Once a dermatologist completes this training, the dermatologist is called a
Mohs surgeon.
Mohs surgery begins with the Mohs surgeon removing the visible part of the melanoma. Next, the
surgeon begins removing the cancer cells. Cancer cells are not visible to the naked eye, so the
surgeon removes skin that may contain cancer cells one layer at a time. After removing a layer, it is
prepped so that the surgeon can examine it under a microscope and look for cancer cells. This layerby-layer approach continues until the surgeon no longer finds cancer cells. In most cases, Mohs
surgery can be completed within a day or less. Mohs has a high cure rate.
When caught early, removing the melanoma by excision or Mohs may be all the treatment a patient
needs. In its earliest stage, melanoma grows in the epidermis (outer layer of skin). Your dermatologist
may refer to this as melanoma in situ or stage 0. In this stage, the cure rate with surgical removal is
nearly 100%.
Worst Case Scenario!
Allowed to grow, melanoma can
spread to other parts of the
body. Melanoma can spread
quickly. When melanoma spreads,
it can be deadly!
Funerific Facts
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Anyone can get melanoma.
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Most people have light skin, but people who have brown and black skin also get
melanoma.
Some people have a higher risk of getting melanoma. These people have the following
traits:
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Skin
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Fair skin (The risk is higher if the person also has red or blond hair and blue or green
eyes.)
Sun-sensitive skin (rarely tans or burns easily)
50-plus moles, large moles, or unusual-looking moles
If you have had bad sunburns or spent time tanning (sun, tanning beds, or sun lamps),
you also have a higher risk of getting melanoma.
Family/medical history
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Melanoma runs in the family (parent, child, sibling, cousin, aunt, uncle had melanoma)
You had another skin cancer, but most especially another melanoma.
A weakened immune system
More Fun Facts!
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The important role of sun exposure in
childhood was found in an immigration
study from Australia, where rates of
melanoma are the highest in the world.
In this study,6 children who immigrated
to Australia before the age of 10 had a
risk similar to native-born Australians.
Immigrants who arrived after the age of
15 had one fourth the rate of melanoma
of native-born residents.
Sources!
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001115/2277.
htm
 http://www.avvo.com/healthguides/malignant-melanoma-preventionearly-detection-and-effective-treatment
 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC2532967/
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Produced by Faythe Grinstead, 4th Hr.