Multiple Melanoma

Multiple melanoma isn't something that most people think about. Having this dangerous kind of skin cancer in just one area is bad enough. Getting it again seems like the worst thing that could possibly happen.

But people do get more than one melanoma. In fact, if you've had skin cancer in the past, you have a much higher chance of getting it again. Here are some facts about multiple melanoma, how to keep from getting it, and what to do if you think you might have it.

A Growing Risk

We have strong evidence that melanoma is getting to be more of a risk for people of all ages. People are getting this possible deadly skin cancer at a younger age than ever, and they're getting it more than once People are getting two or more tumors at once, or they're getting melanoma again after the first case is treated.

We don't know exactly why this happens. Some people think that it has to do with genetics and who you're related to. Others think that people get more than one cancer because they're more exposed to its source. In this case, that's damaging UV radiation from the sun.

We do know that too much sun damage will make your chances of cancer go up, but we don't know exactly how it affects your chance of getting it more than once. Many people aren't done with cancer even after they have their first case cured. It can be tempting to think you're safe, since you've already had the disease once. But that would be a mistake - eight percent of people get another tumor later in life.

People who have relatives with skin cancer and people who have a kind of large unstable freckle (a dysplastic nevus) are also at a higher level of risk. If you have one of these two factors, your risk of having a second cancer turns out to be about one in four. And if you get two melanoma, you have a thirty percent chance of getting a third one.

The Good News

The prognosis for melanoma is now better than it's ever been. Fifty years ago, most people with this kind of skin cancer died from it. Now, we can remove melanoma in the early stages and prevent it from being dangerous.

That makes it even more important to get help before you start seeing malignant melanoma symptoms. After all, the risk to your life goes up the longer a cancer is allowed to grow. Don't put yourself in danger if you can avoid it.

Preventing More Than One Melanoma

People who have had skin cancer need to see their doctor every three to four months to make sure their skin cancer doesn't come back. This might seem like an extra step that you don't need. After all, you've already had your cancer treated.

But these skin checkups could save your life. Many people discover a new cancer early and have it removed before it can cause problems. Remember - melanoma causes about eight thousand deaths per year in the US alone.

Along with seeing your doctor on a regular basis, you should also be careful how much and what kind of sun you get. That doesn't mean you have to bundle up in winter clothes whenever you go out. It just means that you need to take some basic precautions:

• using sunscreen correctly
• avoiding the strong damaging sun in the middle of the afternoon.
• wearing light clothing that covers your arms and legs.

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