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What is malignant melanoma? We hear a lot about it and other skin cancers. But most news reports and other sources of information don't really tell us. Fortunately the explanation is not very complicated.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It usually begins in the skin, often from a mole. However, melanoma can start in normal looking skin, too. About half of all melanomas actually begin in regular skin.
Skin cancer statistics tell us that the number of people diagnosed with melanoma is going up. In the UK alone, almost nine thousand people are diagnosed yearly. More than fifty thousand cases are diagnosed each year in the US. This increase in cases is partly because we're getting better at detecting it. But it may also be because sun exposure is becoming more dangerous.
Melanoma comes from melanocytes. These are the cells responsible for creating pigment. When these cells grow uncontrollably and spread into other layers of skin, the result is a melanoma. A tumor of this kind might look like:
No matter what it looks like, the most important thing you can do is identify it early and get treatment.
Melanoma that are identified quickly and treated right away are much less likely to be dangerous. Examine your skin regularly. If you see anything strange, talk to your doctor about it right away. It could save your life!
This kind of cancer usually occurs as we get older. This is because we get more sun exposure over time. However, melanoma is the most common cancer in young people. Its rare in children under the age of fourteen.
It is most likely to occur in people who have spent a lot of time in the sun.
Paler people get melanoma more easily than those with darker skin. Light eyes and hair often mean you're at a higher risk for this disease.
Men are most likely to get melanoma on the back or chest. The history of skin cancer tells us that they used to be the most likely to develop skin cancer in general. But women are becoming more likely to develop it. They often get melanoma on the legs and upper back.
Contribute risk factors to get this disease are:
Your risk also increases if you have ever had malignant melanoma or any other type of skin cancer before. People who have been treated for skin cancer in the past have to pay careful attention to their bodies to prevent recurrences. It's smart to see your doctor on a regular basis for a careful examination. This prevents any new cancer from becoming dangerous.
Once the melanocytes in your skin have begun to grow out of control, they spread through the skin around them. In early stages, the tumor is usually very thin, even if it looks large.
Tumors that are allowed to keep growing will eventually get deeper. They will spread from the upper layer of skin to the lower layers. This is when they become dangerous.
Melanomas that have penetrated the dermis can spread to other systems. That means that cancer can occur in the brain, lungs, bone, liver and other places. This kind of cancer can be fatal.
Treating melanoma as early as possible is extremely important. Surgical removal is usually effective when the tumor is small, and prevents the cancer from spreading through the body.
Early treatment also leaves a smaller scar. Detecting melanoma early is a matter of paying attention to your skin and its condition. Report anything unusual to your doctor. He or she can perform a biopsy, and tell you if you have cancer.
If you catch it right away, there's almost no danger. In more than ninety-nine percent of cases where the tumor is removed early, the patient survives without problems.
What is malignant melanoma? It's a type of skin cancer that could be very dangerous if left untreated. If you think something is wrong, talk to your doctor about the possibilities. You'll be glad you did.
"This website is for all skin cancer patients, their families and friends. I want people to know that they can overcome this disease by learning what to do, where to go for great medical help, how to deal with insurance and all the other problems facing them.
I have worked with some great people to make this web site easy to understand and devoted to helping you. Please let me know if anything doesn't help you or if we can do something more that would be useful to you.
The most important factor in a person getting healthy is their personal determination and their will to be better. You have to summon that determination and then take the steps described here - we are here to help and support you."
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