Melanoma Research Paper

Many people think that is it possible to achieve a “healthy tan,” but this thought has been proven wrong. Overexpose to UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun lead to premature aging of the skin, as well as the possible formation of skin cancer, know as melanoma. An appearance of a tan is actually a stage of burning and damage to the skin. Although a tan may be desirable to many, the fact remains that more people need to be educated on the dangers of the sun’s harmful rays, and the possible health complications of overexposure.

Unlike other cancers which we can develop, melanoma can often be detected on the skin which allows doctors to treat it at its early stages resulting in less complications and lower death rates to patients, again if left undetected at its early stages this can easily spread to distant areas and distant organs. Once melanoma has spread to other areas of the body which is classified as stage IV it is diagnosed as

Although there are several types of skin cancer, the most aggressive form is melanoma. This cancer of the skin involves mass replication of the pigment producing melanocyte cells, which are located in the epidermis, below the basal layer. There are several factors involved with the onset of melanoma including, exposure to ultraviolet rays, genetic predisposition, numerous nevi (moles), immunosuppression, and environmental exposure to carcinogens.

Melanoma is a dangerous invasive cancer which starts in melanin producing cells (melanocytes) usually located at the bottom of the skins epidermal layer. Although certain individuals have a genetic propensity for melanoma, it is usually triggered by excessive UV exposure from sunlight or tanning beds (Mayo Clinic, 2016a). At early stages it is relatively easy to treat, however, recurrences are common. At later stages melanoma treatments are less effective since it tends to metastasize and spread easily through the lymphatic system (Mayo Clinic, 2016a).. The root cause of malignant melanoma is due to mutations in the p53 gene protein which invariably leads to further mutations.

Malignant melanoma is the most commonly seen skin cancer and it has the highest number of deaths among diseases of the skin (Friedman, Rigel, Kopf and Polsky, 2005). Among the many factors that cause this cutaneous cancer genetic modifications, viruses, carcinogens and excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays are the most commonly occurring (Friedman, Rigel, Kopf and Polsky, 2005). Malignant melanoma affects all areas of the skin and the disease forms in melanocytes, which are the cells in which pigments (melanin) are synthesized (Melanoma Treatment). The cancer has its origin in the epidermis and affect squamous and basal cells. The disease usually affects the trunk, arms and legs but can also be present in the eye, affecting the

Skin cells normally push the new healthy cells toward the top to replace the old cells that need to be replaced but, in some cases, when the cell DNA is too damaged then the new skin cells start to grow rapidly which turn into cancerous growths. Doctors believe that the main lead cause of melanoma is too much exposure to UV rays that comes mostly from sunlight and tanning beds (Cancer Research UK). The Melanoma Research Foundation says that, “approximately 90% of melanoma cases can be linked to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays…” Having blistering sunburns during early childhood can increase the chances of getting melanoma, along with getting sunburns and excessive exposure later in life can increase risks as well. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, people who live in places that have more sunlight like Florida, Arizona and California have a higher chance of getting skin cancer. Lighter skinned people who live in the colder northern states can also get skin cancer and some locations actually have a higher number of skin cancer patients. The healthy amount of exposure to the sun is about 20 minutes to be able to get the right amount of Vitamin D required by the body, after 20 minutes or so it would be smart to use sunscreen in order to avoid getting a sunburn. It is also smart to avoid using a tanning booth or bed since it increases the risk of getting

* Chemotherapy: Using special medicines or drugs to shrink or kill the cancer, Drugs include pills or IV. (Maybe both)

Superficial spreading melanoma: the most common type of melanoma carrying up to 70 percent of all the melanomas in the world. It is common in the young people and as the name suggests it spreads across the top layer before penetrating deep inside the skin.

The most serious type of skin cancer is melanoma. Melanoma begins in the melanocytes and forms tumors that are usually brown or black. Any skin on the body can develop melanoma. The common places for melanoma to start are the back and chest of men and the legs of women while the neck and face are also common spots. Although it is uncommon, melanoma can also be found in the eyes and mouth. The skin is the main organ affected by melanoma but its is possible for the cancer cells to spread to internal organs. If melanoma is spread to the immune system, it can trick it to not destroy the cancer cells by use of immune cell proteins. Melanocytes are cells with pigment in them, that give the skin its color and are also the cells that become melanoma.

Melanoma is a skin cancer that develops in pigment cells. These pigment cells are called melanocytes. These cells can grow rapidly and can spread throughout the lymphatic system. Early detection is a key factor when dealing with melanoma. The survival rate is determined by how early the cancer is diagnosed. If the cancer is caught at an early stage the survival rate is about 99%, but if it is not and it spreads throughout the lymphatic system, the survival rate drops to 14%. Melanoma is less common than most cancers but is one of the most dangerous cancers. Melanoma is caused by the exposure to ultraviolet from the sun and sunbeds. Sunburns that repeatedly occur can eventually cause the development of Melanoma. Melanoma can start off as just

When a mutation occurs in melanocytes, it is called a neoplasm. This neoplasm is unregulated, irreversible and monoclonal. This new growth is not cancer, it is benign. When the mutant melanomas proliferate even more, they begin to look abnormal and invade surrounding epithelial tissue. This is known as carcinoma in situ which is still benign. The next step for this growth pattern is the cells invade local stroma. Once the mutated cells invade the stroma, it is malignant. The cancer can now metastasize and invade local lymph nodes.

For melanoma, the 1st sign often is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of an existing mole. Melanoma can vary greatly in the way they look, but generally show one or more of the “ABCD” features:

One prevention is to wear long-sleeve shirts because it would cover more skin than what a t-shirt would. For the legs, wear long pants, it would cover more than shorts. A second way to prevent from getting it is to sit in some shade once in awhile than always being in the sun. It can protect the skin from the damaging effects of the UV rays, but not all shade will protect it. People can spend several hours in the shade and still receive sun exposure. A third one would be sunscreen, make sure it is on the places that would be exposed to the sun. The last one would be to avoid tanning beds. People who tan are about 74% more likely to develop Melanoma than those who do not tan

    Cancer is a disease in which cells multiply out of control and gradually build a mass of tissue called a tumor. There has been a large amount of research dedicated to the treatment and cure of cancer. Several types of treatments have been developed. The following are just some of the major examples of cancer therapy: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic therapy, biorhythms, unconventional treatments, and hyperthermia. Each type of treatment is discussed in detail below.

Radiation treatment is by using radiation to kill of the cancer cells. Doctors use small amounts of radiation to aim at the tumor at a specific location. However the cancer can spread at different locations and the cancer can die but later a new cancer can form.