Transcript Melanoma Olivia EF

MELANOMA
Olivia Wilson
What is Melanoma?




Melanoma is the most serious
type of skin cancer
It can be found in the
digestive tract and lymph
nodes because melanocytes
are also located there,
however this is not typical
Often clusters of melanocytes
and surrounding tissue
become noncancerous moles
Abnormal growth of
melanocytes cause moles to
become cancerous
Normal Skin
Signs and Symptoms


Melanoma first becomes
apparent when a mole
changes size or color or
a new mole appears
Men tend to find it on
their back and shoulder
area, where women
tend to find it on their
legs. African Americans
tend to find it under
their nails and on the
pads of their hands and
feet
More Signs and Symptoms




Common signs include
asymmetrical moles, ragged
borders to moles, uneven color
and changes in size
Early melanoma usually turns
a black color and becomes
slightly scaled and itchy
More advanced melanoma
becomes hard and lumpy
Melanoma usually isn’t
marked by any pain
Types of Melanoma




Melanoma that appears in
the skin is known as
cutaneous melanoma
If melanoma spreads, it
usually starts in the lymph
nodes then distributes
itself to the lungs, brain,
and liver
This is known as metastatic
melanoma
Melanoma may occur in
the eye. This is known as
ocular melanoma
Causes


Exact causes are unknown
Risk factors include







Dysplastic nevi (abnormal
looking moles)
Having a lot of moles
fair skin
personal or family history
of skin cancer
weak immune system
Frequent severe sun burns
Lots of time spent in the sun
Diagnosis


A biopsy of the area
is needed to
determine whether or
not a mole is
melanoma
A biopsy is the
removal of the area in
question so a doctor
and accurately look at
the cells
Biopsy Scar
Treatment






Surgery
Chemotherapy
Biological therapy
Radiation therapy
Treatment option is based
on the size and stage of
the melanoma
Side effects of treatment
may include scarring,
nausea, loss of hair, flu
like symptoms, vomiting,
and/or diarrhea
Surgery



Most common
Doctors remove
melanoma and
surrounding tissue to
insure no regrowth
Lymph node biopsy
and removal may be
necessary if cancer
cells have spread
Chemotherapy




Chemotherapy is the use
of drugs to kill cancer
In melanoma patients it is
either an injection or a pill
If melanoma is on a limb
they may inject directly to
in and stop blood flow to
the area so drugs can
directly reach cancer
A heated injection may be
used
Biological Therapy



Biological therapy is the
use of the body’s
immune system to fight
cancer
Large amounts of man
made cytokines are
injected into the body
Cytokines are naturally
occurring in the body to
fight infection
Radiation Therapy


Radiation is the use of
high energy to kill
cancer
Its used to control the
spread of melanoma
and shrink tumors that
may be caused by the
disease
Costs


As of 2007, treatment
of melanoma has cost
the country over 740
million dollars
Treatment of this
disease is costly, but
necessary for survival
MELANOMA HAS AFFECTED
ABOUT 121,840 PEOPLE IN
THE LAST YEAR.
Get Checked.