Table of Contents
Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer. It often grows in the most unexpected places. The early signs are often subtle and go unnoticed until it is too late. Melanoma cancer is the most common form of cancer among people between the ages of 15 and 29. There are more than a million new cases of melanoma diagnosed each year in the United States alone, and it kills more than six thousand people every year.
We’ve all heard about Melanoma cancer. Most of us know someone who has suffered from it. But did you know that Melanoma cancer is the most common cancer? In fact, there are more cases of melanoma cancer than any other cancer, and that number will continue to grow.
It seems to be all too common. We see people with dark moles on their face. They think they’re small, like a pimple. So they ignore them. Well, these little brownish-red bumps are actually malignant, and can kill if left untreated. These are moles that should be examined by your dermatologist right away.
It cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. It is much more common than prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and leukemia combined. This is because it has an earlier average onset age than these other types of cancer. People with fair skin, white or red hair, blue or green eyes, freckles or moles, or any family history of Melanoma cancer are at increased risk.
Skin Cancer Types
Here are some Melanoma cancer types.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
BCC usually grows on the surface of the skin. The most common form of Melanoma cancer, basal cell carcinoma, can be treated with surgery and chemotherapy.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of Melanoma cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma is a very aggressive type of Melanoma cancer. SCC grows on the top layer of the skin and is characterized by thick, rough growths. It usually starts as a small red lump in the skin. The lump may grow into a sore or a wart-like growth. Squamous cell carcinoma is treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is usually used to treat small tumors or tumors on parts of the body that are hard to reach with surgery. People with squamous cell carcinoma usually have an excellent outcome if they are treated right away. They are more likely to survive.
Melanoma
The most common Melanoma cancer type is melanoma. It can cause death if not caught early. MM starts on the top layer of the skin, but it spreads to the deeper layers. Melanoma tends to appear on sun-exposed areas of the body. These include the face, scalp, ears, hands, arms, shoulders, back, neck, chest, genitals, and feet. Other less common types of Melanoma cancer include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and keratoacanthoma.
Melanoma Stages
There are 5 stages of malignant melanoma that must be treated by surgery before it spreads.
- Stage 1 is a local, non-invasive tumor.
- Stage 2 involves growth into nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage 3 is when the tumor grows into deeper tissue and spreads to distant lymph nodes.
- In Stage 4, the disease has spread to organs such as the lungs and liver.
- Finally, Stage 5 involves tumors that have spread to other parts of the body.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare Melanoma cancer that affects more than 1 in 100,000 Americans each year. This rare tumor is also called neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), troncular carcinoma (TC), and cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma (CNC). MCC is a disease of older adults with a mean age of 72 years. The median overall survival time is less than 12 months. Treatment options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. The prognosis for patients with MCC is poor. Fewer than 10% of patients survive more than two years after
Kaposi’s Sarcoma
Radiation therapy is usually used to treat small tumors or tumors in parts of the body that are hard to reach with surgery. People with squamous cell carcinoma usually have an excellent outcome if they are treated right away. They are more likely to survive.
Skin Cancer Signs
It can be caused by sunlight exposure, too much sun, exposure to radiation, skin burns, and genetics. When you see a white spot on your arm, do you worry? How can you tell if it’s a mole? A mole on your face is different from one on your leg. How do you know if your mole is benign or malignant? What does it mean if you develop an ulcer or rash on your skin? What are some of the symptoms of melanoma? What will you need to do to help prevent melanoma?
Skin Cancer Mole
This cancer mole could be a sign of melanoma. Melanoma is a serious form of cancer which has a high rate of spreading and can lead to death. To find out if it is melanoma, see your doctor and ask him to perform a biopsy of the mole.
Stages
1) Early Stage (Precancerous)
Skin cancer early stages is a pre-cancerous condition, where the skin cells start dividing rapidly. It is considered non-cancerous because it does not invade nearby tissues. It can be removed with surgery or treated by laser surgery. Local advanced Melanoma cancer is cancer that has grown beyond the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and into the skin tissue beneath (dermis). This type of Melanoma cancer can be removed with surgery or treated by cryosurgery or laser surgery.
2) Metastatic
Metastatic cancer is cancer that has spread to other organs or tissues, usually to distant lymph nodes. Metastatic cancer may not be curable and may cause serious problems for the patient.
Skin Cancer How To Prevent
Avoiding the sun is the easiest way to protect your skin from melanoma cancer. Its prevention is important. People can reduce their risk of developing melanoma cancer by using sun protection every day. Sun exposure can cause damage to the skin. It can be prevented if you have enough vitamin D. People with low levels of vitamin D are at increased risk for melanoma cancer. Some experts believe that the more sun exposure you have, the higher your chances of getting melanoma cancer.
Skin Cancer Treatment
It is are very curable. The treatment depends on the type of melanoma cancer. Treatment includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or immunotherapy. Most melanoma cancers do not spread and only small portions of the tumor need to be removed. However, some cancers may spread. This can happen even though the melanoma cancer was completely removed by surgery. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be used to kill cancer cells that may have moved to other parts of the body.
