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Malignant Melanoma - Malignant Melanoma symptom, treatment, causes

Malignant Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Malignant melanoma arises when there is uncontrolled growth of melanocytes (cells that produce melanin pigment). The cancer is rare in childhood, but its incidence increases from puberty onwards and is usually related to sun exposure, being more than twice as common in northern Australia as in Victoria and Tasmania.

Malignant melanoma most often develops on exposed skin, but can occur anywhere on the body surface including under nails or in the eye. The cancer may arise in an existing mole, which may enlarge, change colour, become irregular in outline, bleed, itch or form a scab. Half of all melanomas begin in normal skin. Any change in a mole of the appearance of a new, rapidly growing pigmented spot must be reported to your doctor without delay, as early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent the melanoma from spreading to lymph glands and other organs.

Diagnosis of Malignant melanoma is confirmed by biopsy, and treatment consists of removing the melanoma surgically. If it has spread, anti-cancer drugs may also be needed. The cure rate for malignant melanomas that have not spread beyond the surface of the skin is close to 100 per cent. Vaccines to combat the cancer are being studied

Melanoma is the most serious and deadly type of skin cancer. It is due to uncontrolled growth of pigment cells, called melanocytes. Melanoma can also involve the pigmented portion of the eye. Although melanomas make up the smallest percentage of all skin cancers, they cause the greatest number of deaths. That's because they're more likely to spread to different parts of the body. And the incidence of melanoma is on the rise. Melanocytes are a type of skin cell and are responsible for producing brown pigment when exposed to the sun. It is this brown pigment which gives us a 'sun tan'. Groups of melanocytes often form coloured lumps, called moles , in the skin. Ordinary moles are quite harmless. However, occasionally, the cells in a mole can become cancerous and start to grow and spread. This cancer is called a malignant melanoma. Avoiding excessive sun exposure can prevent many melanomas. And knowing the warning signs of skin cancer can help ensure that cancerous changes are detected and treated before they have a chance to spread. Melanoma can be successfully treated if you catch it early.

Malignant melanoma is a neoplasm of melanocytes or of the cells that develop from melanocytes. Melanoma most often develops in the skin (cutaneous), but it can also occur in the eye (ocular), and in other areas of the body where melanocytes are found. Skin melanomas are very rare in childhood and occur most frequently in people who are middle-aged or older. Malignant melanoma can also affect the choroid of the eye, the layer just under the retina of the eye. This is the most common type of eye tumour. It causes no pain , but leads to detachment of the retina and problems with sight. Malignant melanoma is becoming more common, probably because of the increasing number of people from hot climates who are exposed to strong sunlight. Cases of malignant melanoma have doubled every ten years for the past 40 years. The exact cause of all melanomas isn't clear, but exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or tanning lamps and beds greatly increases the risk of developing melanoma.

Causes of Malignant Melanoma

The common Causes of Malignant Melanoma :

• Excessive sun exposure.
• Severe blistering sunburns during childhood.
• Ultraviolet radiation used in indoor tanning equipment or Ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This damage the skin. People whose skin burns easily are most at risk of developing melanoma.

Symptoms of Malignant Melanoma

Some Symptoms of Malignant Melanoma :

• Blood blisters under the toenails that aren't the result of another injury.
• Border irregularity (uneven or notched border).
• Areas of skin that ooze, or bleed for no particular reason.
• Color (several colors or irregular pattern of colors).
• Asymmetry (one half of the spot does not match the other half) .

Treatment of Malignant Melanoma

• Remove the melanoma and a ring of tissue around it (to make sure no cancer cells were missed).
• To kill cancer cells that may have spread beyond the tumor.
• Interferon-alfa and interleukin-2 may be given to help the body's immune system prevent a recurrence of the melanoma.
• To kill cancer cells that have spread throughout the body.