Melanoma
What is it?
Melanoma is a cancer that originates in skin cells
called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce pigment, called
melanin, which is the source of a person’s skin, hair, and
eye color. Melanoma is life threatening.
Who gets it?
Risk factors for melanoma include a substantial history
of sun exposure, including a history of sunburns; fair
skin, light hair, and blue, green, or gray eyes; many
moles and freckles on the body; exposure to certain
chemicals such as arsenic and petroleum by-products; and a
family history of melanoma. Severe sunburns at a young age
also put a person at a higher risk. Melanoma is seen
slightly more often in males.
What causes it?
Certain kinds of injury to the skin, such as sunburns,
can affect the chemical process through which the
melanocytes produce melanin. When this occurs, the
melanocytes change into cancer cells, which reproduce at
an uncontrollable rate. Penn State College of Medicine
researcher Gavin Robertson, Ph.D., proved a role for an
important gene called PTEN. His work suggests that PTEN
dysfunction may be responsible in 30 percent to 60 percent
of melanomas. View
the Press Release.
What are the symptoms?
he first visible sign of melanoma is usually a change
in the appearance of an existing mole. The mole may become
larger and change in color, either lighter or darker. The
mole may develop an irregular shape, and become itchy,
sore, scaly, or may scab or bleed. Melanoma may also
develop as a new mole or pigmented area of the skin,
usually in an area that’s been exposed to the sun.
Melanoma may also appear in the eyes and under the nails.
Melanoma can spread to other parts of the body
(metastasize). As symptoms progress, they can include
weight loss, bowel problems, and bone pain.
How is it diagnosed?
To make a diagnosis of melanoma, your doctor will ask
you about any medical conditions you might have and your
history of sun exposure. It is important to know if you
have a personal or family history of melanoma. The doctor
will also ask when you first noted the spot and whether it
has changed in size or appearance. He or she will perform
a skin examination, measure and record the size and color
of any suspicious growths, and check for enlarged lymph
nodes, which can indicate that a cancer has spread. If the
doctor believes there is any cause for concern about a
particular patch of skin, he or she will perform a biopsy,
in which all or part of the growth is surgically removed.
This is usually done in the doctor's office with a local
anesthetic. The skin that was removed is then examined
under a microscope by a dermatopathologist to determine if
any cancer is present. If so, the doctor will determine
the stage of disease (how far it has progressed), in order
to determine the best possible treatment. Your doctor may
also order blood and urine tests, a chest x-ray, and bone,
brain, and/or liver scans.
What is the treatment?
To treat melanoma, your doctor will surgically remove
the cancerous growth. He or she will also remove an area
of healthy tissue around the cancerous growth to make sure
all the cancer is removed. If the cancer has not spread
beyond the growth area, you will need to see your doctor
for regular skin examinations, protect yourself from sun
exposure, and carefully examine your own skin on a regular
basis so you can quickly identify any suspicious areas. If
the cancer has metastasized, treatment depends upon the
location and stage of the cancer. You may require further
surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.
However, melanoma is often resistant to radiation and
chemotherapy. Immunotherapy focuses on stimulating the
body’s own immune system to attack the cancer cells. Two
of these therapies, interferon alpha and interleukin-2,
stimulate the immune system to attack the cancer cells,
which in some cases can shrink cancerous tumors.
Researchers are working to develop cancer vaccines. While
these vaccines cannot prevent melanoma, they can help
prevent its return after surgery.
Self-care tips
Because melanoma can spread to other parts of the body,
it is very important to identify it quickly and get
immediate treatment. You can help protect yourself by
having regular skin exams. A dermatologist can identify
suspicious-looking lesions before they progress too far.
If you must spend time in the sun, make sure you are well
protected with a sunscreen of at least SPF15, a hat, and
protective clothing. Try to stay out of the sun during the
hours of 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If you have been diagnosed
with melanoma, follow your doctor’s treatment
recommendations, get plenty of rest, and follow a healthy
diet.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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