MELANOMA

Olivia Wilson

What is Melanoma?

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer

It can be found in the digestive tract and lymph nodes because melanocytes are also located there, however this is not typical

Often clusters of melanocytes and surrounding tissue become noncancerous moles

Abnormal growth of melanocytes cause moles to become cancerous

Normal Skin

Signs and Symptoms

Melanoma first becomes apparent when a mole changes size or color or a new mole appears

Men tend to find it on their back and shoulder area, where women tend to find it on their legs. African Americans tend to find it under their nails and on the pads of their hands and feet

More Signs and Symptoms

Common signs include asymmetrical moles, ragged borders to moles, uneven color and changes in size

Early melanoma usually turns a black color and becomes slightly scaled and itchy

More advanced melanoma becomes hard and lumpy

Melanoma usually isn’t marked by any pain

Types of Melanoma

Melanoma that appears in the skin is known as cutaneous melanoma

If melanoma spreads, it usually starts in the lymph nodes then distributes itself to the lungs, brain, and liver

This is known as metastatic melanoma

Melanoma may occur in the eye. This is known as ocular melanoma

Causes

Exact causes are unknown

Risk factors include Dysplastic nevi

(abnormal looking moles)

Having a lot of moles fair skin personal or family

history of skin cancer weak immune system Frequent severe sun

burns Lots of time spent in the

sun

Diagnosis

A biopsy of the area is needed to determine whether or not a mole is melanoma

A biopsy is the removal of the area in question so a doctor and accurately look at the cells Biopsy Scar

Treatment

Surgery Chemotherapy Biological therapy Radiation therapy Treatment option is

based on the size and stage of the melanoma

Side effects of treatment may include scarring, nausea, loss of hair, flu like symptoms, vomiting, and/or diarrhea

Surgery

Most common Doctors remove

melanoma and surrounding tissue to insure no regrowth

Lymph node biopsy and removal may be necessary if cancer cells have spread

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer

In melanoma patients it is either an injection or a pill

If melanoma is on a limb they may inject directly to in and stop blood flow to the area so drugs can directly reach cancer

A heated injection may be used

Biological Therapy

Biological therapy is the use of the body’s immune system to fight cancer

Large amounts of man made cytokines are injected into the body

Cytokines are naturally occurring in the body to fight infection

Radiation Therapy

Radiation is the use of high energy to kill cancer

Its used to control the spread of melanoma and shrink tumors that may be caused by the disease

Costs

As of 2007, treatment of melanoma has cost the country over 740 million dollars

Treatment of this disease is costly, but necessary for survival

MELANOMA HAS AFFECTED ABOUT 121,840 PEOPLE IN THE LAST YEAR.

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