Melanoma Research Paper

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

Melanoma can be anywhere on your body. Moles, warts, or even a sun burn can lead to melanoma. Melanoma is a form of cancer that begins in melanocytes, cells in the skin that produce the brown color known as melanin. These are the cells that darken when exposed to the sun, a protective response to protect the deeper layers of the skin from the harmful effects of the sun.

In 1992 there were approximately 62,000 cases of melanoma diagnosed and around 6,700 deaths. Each year, over 55,000 people get diagnosed with melanoma in the United States (Altman).

It is usually caused by intense exposure from ultraviolet radiation such as sun or tanning beds. Melanoma is when damaged DNA from this high exposure triggers mutations in the body that leads to the intense multiplication of cancerous cells. Melanoma cancer can look almost like a mole and can range from skin colored to black or brown in color. If caught and treated early it is curable, however if not caught early it can spread into the body and cause other cancerous cells or death. There are four types of melanoma skin cancers: superficial spreading melanoma, lentigo maligna, acral lentiginous melanoma and nodular melanoma. Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common and is usually seen in young people, but in all ages as well. It is known for growing along the epidermis for a long period of time before penetrating into the skin. This can also be found almost anywhere on the body but usually for men on their upper bodies and for females on their legs but also upper bodies. Lentigo maligna is known for its appearance for can look similar to a tan or dark discoloration. It is usually found in the elderly population and is the most common in areas of Hawaii. It is found on the upper body, arms, facial area and ears. Acral lentiginous melanoma is known for its appearance under the nails, palms of the hands or feet as a dark discoloration. It is mostly common in Asian and African-American cultures and can

Acral Lentiginous Melanoma or ALM is a rare subtype of melanoma that occurs more often in people of color. It accounts for 2 to 3 percent of the all of the world’s cases of melanoma (Bradford). Dr. R. J. Reed in 1976 was the first to describe it as the appearance of dark lesions on the hands and feet. Radial or lentiginous was the main phase of its growth that lasts several years then it changes into a vertical or dermal invasive stage (Bradford). Several universities have released results on tests on ALM but since it is rare it was difficult for the research groups to get solid information because of small sample sizes. Nonetheless, studies by scientists such as Dr. R. J. Reed we able to determine that the survival rate for three years with the melanoma was on average at 11% (Bradford).

Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer, causing up to 75% cancer-related deaths and is usually occurs due to exposure to UV rays of the sun. The chances are increased with sunburn episodes especially during childhood. It developed from the pigment cells known as melanocytes, a layer of cells producing melanin which protects against the damaging rays of the sun. Sometimes, these pigment cells increase in size and become cancerous melanoma. It didn’t show any particular symptoms, however, it is related to the changes associated with moles, gives ‘ABCDE’ warning signs i.e. Asymmetry, irregular Border, uneven Colour, Diameter, evolution.

     Distinguishing melanoma may seem hard to do, but is not so once a person is informed on what they should be looking for. They may appear similar to moles, and may be blue or black in color. Though they will usually lack the symmetry and border regularity of a common mole, and may have variance in their coloring. Melanomas can either appear suddenly, or develop slowly near a preexisting mole. In rare cases, melanomas may form on top of previously formed moles or birthmarks, but will also come with the effects of pain, itching, or bleeding. These moles may begin to exhibit new and/or strange characteristics such as

When your biopsy results come back, the lab gives your melanoma a type. The type refers to how far the cancer has invaded the skin up to the point where it has metastasized to your lymph nodes or organs. You may need to have other treatments for melanoma once it has spread, although your dermatologist will refer you to specialists for treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy.

Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common type. This type is most common in Caucasians, is usually irregular in shape, and has different shades of black and brown. Nodular melanoma is the second most common type and usually begins as a raised area that is dark blackish-blue or bluish-red. Lentigo maligna melanoma is usually seen in the elderly. This type is rare and is most common in sun-damaged skin on your face, neck, and arms. This last type of melanoma is very rare it is known as Acral lentiginous melanoma and it usually occurs on palms, sole of feet, or under the

Then you have the Basal Cell Carcinoma This is the most common but least dangerous form of skin cancer. It grows slowly, usually on the head, neck and upper torso. It may appear as a lump or dry, scaly area. It maybe red, pale or pearly in colour. As it grows, it may ulcerate or appear like a sore that fails to completely heal or one that does heal but then breaks down again.

Melanoma is one of the rare diseases of the integumentary system; it is also the deadliest. It is a form of skin cancer and is held responsible for most skin-cancer related deaths. The three major forms of melanoma are: cutaneous melanoma, ocular melanoma, and mucosal melanoma. More and more cases of melanoma have been occurring throughout the years. In the early 2000’s over 160,000 new cases of this deadly disease popped up. It is ranked the sixth most common cancer in both genders. While it does occur slightly more in women, the deaths caused by it is higher for men. This form of cancer is more popular with the white population. It more so affects these whites in North America, Oceania, and Europe.

Melanomas can develop anywhere on the skin, but they are more likely to start on the chest and back in men and on the legs in women. The neck and face are other common sites.

The skin cancer is long term disease.it is most widely recognized of all diseases. The melanoma indicates under 2% of growing skin cases however there is huge greater part of skin cancer passings.the recent research the Cancer Society’s identified melanoma in the newzealands for 2015:

Other cases of melanoma may show development of a halo of discoloration around the area in which they arise, emulating the appearance of a halo nevus. Sutton’s nevus, or Halo nevus, is a melanocytic nevus surrounded by a round or oval halo of depigmentation. This pigment los is often the result of spontaneous regression of the central nevus via a process involving a T-cell mediated immune response to certain nevus antigens. Although, halo phenomenon typically involves common acquired melanocytic nevi, it also has been observed in congenital nevi, blue nevi, Spitz nevi, and melanoma. It has been suggested that clinicians should have a higher level of suspicion in patients with personal or family history of vitiligo. The back is the most common location for halo nevi, and multiple lesions are present in approximately half of cases.[9-11] Considering that patients with halo nevi often have an increased number of nevi in general and the association with certain classes of dysplastic lesions, a total body skin examination is recommended, but they are usually benign lesions by themselves and of only cosmetic

Melanoma has affected many individuals but there are treatments provides hopes to battling this dangerous disease.Such treatments include surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. For the surgery portion, anything can be done to stop the spread for most melanomas by amputation, lymph node dissection, Mohs surgery, or wide excision. These are all different ways to physically remove the cancer from the skin. The right treatment depends on the stage of cancer the patient is in. If it is an early stage, treatments like surgery will do just fine. These are considered the conventional treatments but they do not always work.