Types of Melanoma

The types of melanoma number four, but most people don't know this. They know that this is a dangerous type of cancer, and that more people are developing it then ever, but they might not know much else.

Melanoma is the eighth most common type of malignant cancer in the US, and it's showing up at a faster rate than any other cancer. That means that it's important to learn as much about it as you can. Here's a look at the four main types of melanoma and what they look like.

Distinct kinds of melanoma

There are more than four kinds overall, of course. But these four kinds of melanoma are the ones that fall into distinct categories, and can become deadly. You may hear about some diseases that sound like melanoma types, such as "basal cell melanoma" but these are usually caused by people confusing different kinds of skin cancer.

This article can help you understand this possibly deadly kind of cancer better. Fortunately, the survival rates for this cancer have gone up over the past seventy-five years as we learn more about it. Finding this cancer early and applying our knowledge to treat it can result in an almost total cure.

1. Lentigo Maligna - This kind of melanoma is one that appears mostly on the head and neck, or in any area with a lot of sun damage. Middle aged and elderly people get it a lot more often than young people and this type of cancer can be mistaken for age spots.

It starts as a small colored area that is shaped differently on each side. It's usually different colors and has irregular borders. It will grow over time, and can stay flat for many years, but it will get deeper someday. This is when this kind of cancer becomes dangerous. It accounts for only about ten percent of the melanoma diagnosed every year.

2. Superficial Spreading Melanoma - This is a melanoma that is found on the upper arms, thighs and trunk. Women get it mostly on their legs and men mostly on their bodies.

It's the most common kind in people with lighter colored skin, and starts off looking similar to lentigo maligna - a flat mark with more than one color and strange borders.

It doesn't stay flat as long, though. It will soon reach deeper parts of the skin and begin to spread through the body. This kind of cancer accounts for about seventy percent of all diagnosed cases of melanoma.

It strikes young people as well as old ones, and happens more often in women than men. It is the biggest cause of death by cancer in young adults.

3. Nodular Melanoma - This melanoma happens on any kind of skin surface, but mostly shows up on the legs, upper arms, and body. Men get it more often than women, and most of the people who get this kind of cancer are over the age of sixty.

This melanoma looks like a raised bump most of the time. It is flat for only a short time. Then it goes deeper into the skin and can spread.

Nodular melanoma grows more quickly in thickness than it does in width and length, and is often dark in color. It might also look like a sore that won't heal. This kind of melanoma makes up about fifteen percent of the cases that doctors find.

4. Cral Lentiginous Melanoma - This cancer is mostly seen on the hands and feet, and can even grow under your fingernails. People with dark skin are more likely to get this type of melanoma.

About half the cases of melanoma that happen in people with darker skin are this kind. It can be called the hidden melanoma because it tends to show up on parts of the body that are hard to examine.

It looks a lot like the lentigo maligna, but can also look like a bruise or a dark stripe under the nail. As it gets thicker, this kind of cancer can become painful, and might be mistaken for a wart. Acral lentiginous melanoma make up only about five percent of melanoma cases.

There are also some types of melanoma that are colorless. They look pink or red, or might look like a scar. They can be very dangerous because they don't look like normal cancer, and people tend to ignore them. If you see a bump or mark like this, and it doesn't go away, talk to your doctor. It could save your life.

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