What is Melanoma?
Melanoma can be a serious form of skin cancer, but has a high rate of successful treatment when diagnosed early. Melanoma develops from melanocytes, which are the cells that produce melanin, which is the pigment that gives your skin color. While uncommon, melanoma can also form inside your body in areas such as your eyes or spinal cord.
Although melanoma causes the most skin cancer-related deaths, it only accounts for approximately 1% of all skin cancer cases. The risk of melanoma is growing, especially for women under 40, as melanoma is one of the most common cancers in women aged 30 or younger. In men, melanoma is most likely to occur on the trunk, especially the upper back. Whereas women most commonly are diagnosed with melanoma on their legs.
What Causes Melanoma?
The cause of melanoma is mainly due to your genetic makeup and sun exposure. Approximately 86% of melanoma cases are caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays. How do UV rays cause melanoma? UV rays can damage the cell’s DNA, which affects how the cell divides and grows. This alteration in how they divide and grow can lead to melanoma.
You can be exposed to UV rays in more ways than being outside. The UV radiation from tanning beds is thought to have caused over 6,000 cases of melanoma per year in the US.
Although melanoma can occur in anyone, there are some factors that may increase your risk of melanoma. These include:
- Fair skin, blond or red hair, and blue eyes
- Excessive sun exposure, especially at a young age
- An address near the equator or in high elevations
- Many moles
- A weakened immune system
- A personal or family history of melanoma
Is Melanoma the Deadliest Cancer?
Melanoma is not the deadliest cancer, but it is the deadliest skin cancer. This is why detecting melanoma early is so important.
What are the Early Signs of Melanoma?
Early signs of melanoma include a change in an existing mole or a new growth that is pigmented or unusual. These early signs can occur on skin that is often exposed to sun or areas of skin that are commonly protected from sun exposure.
An annual skin cancer screening from your dermatologist as well as monthly self skin exams can help catch the early signs of melanoma. At a skin cancer screening, your dermatologist can take note of your current moles, analyze them for any changes, and identify any new mole growth. When melanoma is detected early it can have up to a 99% 5-year survival rate.
What Does Melanoma Look Like?
Melanomas often vary in appearance; however, many are asymmetrical, have an irregular border, are uneven in color, have changed in size, and have recently changed in appearance. In advanced melanoma, you may notice that the texture of the mole has changed, it may become hard or lumpy, or it may begin to bleed.
Melanoma Symptoms
Although most commonly associated with moles, melanoma can also appear as scaly patches, raised bumps, or open sores. A common rule used to identify melanoma is the “ugly duckling rule.” If one mole looks different from your other moles, it is the “ugly duckling” and should be looked at by your dermatologist.
Melanoma most often appears on areas that have been repeatedly exposed to UV rays, such as your face, arms, legs, and back. Melanoma is not limited to these areas though. It can also develop in areas that are not often exposed to the sun, including the soles of your feet.
The most common tip to help you identify melanomas is the ABCDE rule. Some melanomas won’t fit into this rule, so schedule an appointment with your dermatologist if you have any concerns about a mole or growth. So, what is the ABCDE rule? It’s a memory trick to help you identify any changes in your moles or to help you analyze any new moles.
- A is for Asymmetrical - Your growth may have two very separate looking halves.
- B is for irregular Border - Irregular borders are scalloped or notched.
- C is for changes in Color - The growth may have changed in color or is multiple colors.
- D is for Diameter - The mole has grown over ¼ inch in diameter (about the size of a pencil eraser).
- E is for Evolution - Your mole has changed over time or has developed new symptoms, such as bleeding or itching.
When Should I Call My Dermatologist?
It is time to schedule an appointment with your dermatologist if you notice new large moles or multiple large moles. You should also contact your dermatologist if a mole has changed in size, shape, or color or has become tender, is itching, or has started bleeding.
How is Melanoma Diagnosed?
If your dermatologist suspects a mole or growth is melanoma, they will remove the growth by performing a biopsy. If the biopsy confirms the growth is melanoma, further treatment will be needed. Depending on the melanoma, further studies may be performed to evaluate if the melanoma has spread. Once a diagnosis of melanoma is confirmed, it will be categorized into one of five stages. These stages are:
- Stage 0 - Melanoma is only found in the top layer of the skin
- Stage I - Low-risk melanoma that has not spread
- Stage II - There is no evidence of spread, but there is a greater chance that the melanoma will reoccur
- Stage III - The melanoma has spread to the surrounding skin or lymph nodes
- Stave IV - The melanoma has spread to distant lymph nodes or internal organs
How is Melanoma Treated?
Melanoma treatment options vary based on the stage of melanoma, as well as your overall health. Melanoma does require further surgery after the initial biopsy to be sure the melanoma is completely removed. For higher stage melanomas other treatment options include removal of lymph nodes, targeted cancer therapy, and radiation.
If you’re reading this blog, you may be interested in skin cancer removal in Pittsburgh. Our experts perform all stages of skin cancer removal at our Surgery Center. During removal of the melanoma, the skin is numbed with injectable lidocaine. The melanoma tissue is then removed with a margin of normal skin and stitches are placed in the area. The tissue that is removed is then sent to the pathology lab to be sure that it has been removed in its entirety. Once the procedure is completed, you can expect to keep the area bandaged for approximately 48 hours. Bleeding, swelling, and soreness may also occur. Once you are diagnosed with a melanoma, it is recommended that you have a skin exam every three months.
How Can I Prevent Melanoma?
The main way to prevent melanoma is to protect your skin from excessive UV exposure, which includes tanning beds. When possible, wear protective sun gear, including hats with brims, sunglasses, and long-sleeved shirts. Use sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply every hour and a half, more often if you have been sweating or are swimming.
Vujevich Dermatology Associates has highly-trained, board certified dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons to perform skin cancer screenings and melanoma removal. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert dermatologists to schedule a skin cancer screening or learn more about your melanoma treatment options.