Skin Cancer:
Skin cancer is caused due to the malfunctioning and uncontrolled growth of a cell on the lining of skin. Change in color/appearance of skin or development of sores (which do not heal) is a clear indication of possible skin cancer.
Melanoma Skin Cancer: This is the most severe type of skin cancer. It starts from the skin cells named melanocytes, which are responsible for production of melanin (Melanin is a substance that gives our skin its color and also protects our skin cells from ultraviolet rays). Once we come into direct contact with ultra-violet rays, our skin cells (melanocytes) start producing more melanin, this causes tanning of our skin. If we stay in contact with ultra-violet rays for longer time, the melanocytes may start malfunctioning and grow abnormally. This growth can lead to cancer and is called melanoma.
Who is at risk of developing melanoma?
People who come into direct contact of too much of ultra-violet radiation, people having problem with the melanin production, and those who are fair-skinned and have light colored eyes (it has been recorded that melatocytes in fair-skinned people fail to produce sufficient quantity of melanin pigments, hence less protection against harmful UV rays), people with skin problems and those who have hereditary skin problems are at high risk of developing melanoma. Also people who have large number of moles on skin, people with weakened immune system and those who have blistering sunburns on their skin etc. are at high risk of developing melanoma.
What are symptoms of melanoma?
You should consult your doctor if you witness any of the following symptoms:
1) Spots on the skin those grow in size and never heal, multicolored in nature
2) Moles those keep on growing and start itching and change in color or texture (such unusual moles are also known as dysplastic nevi)
3) Bleeding sores those grow and last for longer time (about a month or more) and re-appear after getting healed.
4) For men, generally moles, spots and sores develop on the outer skin such as face, hands etc. whereas for women they grow underneath their palms or fingernails & toenails.
Types of melanoma:
There are four types of melanoma:
Superficial Spreading Melanoma (SSM): This is a most common type of melanoma cancer. It takes about a year or more to spread through the upper skin when it is in its first phase called radial phase. During the first phase, it spreads horizontally and is less threatening. During the second phase, it starts growing vertically making it more dangerous of two phases and hard to treat.
Nodular Melanoma (NM): This type of melanoma appears very rapidly and is considered to be the most deadliest/dangerous of the four types. The direction of this cancer is upward and inward through the skin and body, which makes it more intense and deadly. It generally appears on the legs, arms, head and neck area in light skinned people.
Acral Lentigous Melanoma (ALM): This type of cancer is common in people with dark skin and it starts appearing on nails, palms etc. This type of melanoma is also aggressive in nature, by the time we can diagnose it, it reaches its advanced stage. This type of cancer starts growing across the skin and then it penetrates in the skin.
Lentigo Maligna Melanoma (LMM): People of age group 65 and above are generally prone to develop LMM which is also a least common of all the four melanomas. This cancer targets nose and cheeks and spreads very slowly across the skin. This type of cancer is least threatening and does not spread across the body or other tissues.
How melanoma is diagnosed?
In most of the cases melanoma can be diagnosed simply by examining the infected area (it includes self-examination and examination performed by doctor). This is further accompanied by tests such as Epiluminescence Microscopy and sentinel lymph node biopsy etc.
Treatment of melanoma:
Similar to any other types of cancers, melanoma treatment also involves surgery (in which the tumor and infected tissues from surrounding area are removed), immunotherapy (in which patient is given immune-stimulating chemical (interferon) to help strengthen immune system and fight cancer), chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc. Some vaccines are also currently under trial to help destroy cancer tumors and help patient’s immune system to fight the cancer.
Skin cancer is caused due to the malfunctioning and uncontrolled growth of a cell on the lining of skin. Change in color/appearance of skin or development of sores (which do not heal) is a clear indication of possible skin cancer.
Melanoma Skin Cancer: This is the most severe type of skin cancer. It starts from the skin cells named melanocytes, which are responsible for production of melanin (Melanin is a substance that gives our skin its color and also protects our skin cells from ultraviolet rays). Once we come into direct contact with ultra-violet rays, our skin cells (melanocytes) start producing more melanin, this causes tanning of our skin. If we stay in contact with ultra-violet rays for longer time, the melanocytes may start malfunctioning and grow abnormally. This growth can lead to cancer and is called melanoma.
Who is at risk of developing melanoma?
People who come into direct contact of too much of ultra-violet radiation, people having problem with the melanin production, and those who are fair-skinned and have light colored eyes (it has been recorded that melatocytes in fair-skinned people fail to produce sufficient quantity of melanin pigments, hence less protection against harmful UV rays), people with skin problems and those who have hereditary skin problems are at high risk of developing melanoma. Also people who have large number of moles on skin, people with weakened immune system and those who have blistering sunburns on their skin etc. are at high risk of developing melanoma.
What are symptoms of melanoma?
You should consult your doctor if you witness any of the following symptoms:
1) Spots on the skin those grow in size and never heal, multicolored in nature
2) Moles those keep on growing and start itching and change in color or texture (such unusual moles are also known as dysplastic nevi)
3) Bleeding sores those grow and last for longer time (about a month or more) and re-appear after getting healed.
4) For men, generally moles, spots and sores develop on the outer skin such as face, hands etc. whereas for women they grow underneath their palms or fingernails & toenails.
Types of melanoma:
There are four types of melanoma:
Superficial Spreading Melanoma (SSM): This is a most common type of melanoma cancer. It takes about a year or more to spread through the upper skin when it is in its first phase called radial phase. During the first phase, it spreads horizontally and is less threatening. During the second phase, it starts growing vertically making it more dangerous of two phases and hard to treat.
Nodular Melanoma (NM): This type of melanoma appears very rapidly and is considered to be the most deadliest/dangerous of the four types. The direction of this cancer is upward and inward through the skin and body, which makes it more intense and deadly. It generally appears on the legs, arms, head and neck area in light skinned people.
Acral Lentigous Melanoma (ALM): This type of cancer is common in people with dark skin and it starts appearing on nails, palms etc. This type of melanoma is also aggressive in nature, by the time we can diagnose it, it reaches its advanced stage. This type of cancer starts growing across the skin and then it penetrates in the skin.
Lentigo Maligna Melanoma (LMM): People of age group 65 and above are generally prone to develop LMM which is also a least common of all the four melanomas. This cancer targets nose and cheeks and spreads very slowly across the skin. This type of cancer is least threatening and does not spread across the body or other tissues.
How melanoma is diagnosed?
In most of the cases melanoma can be diagnosed simply by examining the infected area (it includes self-examination and examination performed by doctor). This is further accompanied by tests such as Epiluminescence Microscopy and sentinel lymph node biopsy etc.
Treatment of melanoma:
Similar to any other types of cancers, melanoma treatment also involves surgery (in which the tumor and infected tissues from surrounding area are removed), immunotherapy (in which patient is given immune-stimulating chemical (interferon) to help strengthen immune system and fight cancer), chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc. Some vaccines are also currently under trial to help destroy cancer tumors and help patient’s immune system to fight the cancer.
No comments:
Post a Comment