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Can Subungual Melanoma Be Cured

Can Melanoma Be Cured

Can Melanoma Be Cured with Surgery? | Melanoma Disease | Melanoma Cancer | Melanoma Treatment

Melanoma that’s caught early, when it’s still on the surface of the skin, can be cured.

Untreated melanoma can grow downward into the skin until it reaches the blood vessels and lymphatic system. This lets it travel to distant organs, like the lungs or the brain. That’s why early detection is so important.

Stop Tumors In Their Tracks

Every melanoma has the potential to become deadly, but the difference between an in situ melanoma and one that has begun to metastasize cannot be overstated. There is a drastic change in the survival rate for the various stages of tumors, highlighting the importance of detecting and treating melanomas before they have a chance to progress. Its impossible to predict exactly how fast a melanoma will move from stage to stage, so you should be taking action as soon as possible.

To be sure youre spotting any potential skin cancers early, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends monthly skin checks, and scheduling an annual total-body skin-exam with a dermatologist. These skin exams can help you take note of any new or changing lesions that have the potential to be cancerous, and have them biopsied and taken care of before they can escalate.

Trust your instincts and dont take no for an answer, Leland says. Insist that a doctor biopsy anything you believe is suspicious.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a procedure to test for the spread of cancer.

It may be offered to people with stage 1B to 2C melanoma. It’s done at the same time as surgical excision.

You’ll decide with your doctor whether to have a sentinel lymph node biopsy.

If you decide to have the procedure and the results show no spread to nearby lymph nodes, it’s unlikely you’ll have further problems with this melanoma.

If the results confirm melanoma has spread to nearby nodes, your specialist will discuss with you whether further surgery is required.

Additional surgery involves removing the remaining nodes, which is known as a lymph node dissection or completion lymphadenectomy.

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Can Melanoma Be Prevented

You can’t control how fair your skin is or whether you have a relative with cancerous moles. But there are things you can do to lower your risk of developing melanoma. The most important is limiting your exposure to the sun.

Take these precautions:

  • Avoid the strongest sun of the day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  • Use broad-spectrum sunscreen whenever you’re in the sun.
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat and cover up with long, loose cotton clothing if you burn easily.
  • Stay out of the tanning salon. Even one indoor tanning session increases your risk of getting melanoma.

Also, be sure to check your moles often . Keep dated records of each mole’s location, size, shape, and color, and get anything suspicious checked out right away.

Not all skin cancer is melanoma, but every case of melanoma is serious. So now that you know more about it, take responsibility for protecting yourself and do what you can to lower your risk.

You can find more information online at:

Oral Or Mouth Melanoma

melanoma under the nail

Oral melanoma makes up about 85% of all melanomas in dogs of different breads. They are known to be the most common malignant oral tumor that affect canine pets. They usually present as a mass in the mouth and are very aggressive. Oral melanomas that are malignant can invade deep into the bony structures of the mouth, and can fastly metastasize in up to 80% of dogs.

The reason a dog may develop this is not yet established, however some of the causes may be linked to some risk factors, some environmental and some genetic or hereditary.

Symptoms Of Oral Melanoma In Dogs

  • Facial/Mouth swelling or enlargement

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Eye Or Ocular Melanomas

An ocular melanoma is a type of cancer that grows from the disorganized uncontrolled proliferation of melanocytes as i earlier described. The cells called Melanocytes are found in any tissue of the body, like the skin and eye etc. The ones in the eyes can be found in the thin, circular structure in the eye that gives the eye its color and controls the size of the pupil called Iris, and also beneath the retina _the thin tissue layer that lines the back of the eye.

Melanomas can develop within the eye or at the peri-ocular areas in dogs. They are said to be usually benign and can rarely spread or metastasize to other segments. These tumors can impair your dogs vision and cause major discomfort if not detected and tackled in time.

Types Of Ocular Melanomas In Dogs

The two kinds of Eye melanomas in dogs are:

  • Uveal Melanomas
  • Limbal melanomas.
  • Uveal Ocular Melanomas

    These are primary intra-ocular tumors and the most common types of eye melanomas in dogs. They proliferate from the tissues that line up the uvea _the iris, ciliary body, and choroid.

    Study has it that close to 80% of uveal melanomas are non-cancerous, this simply means they are benign. The metastatic spread to other areas of the body is less than 5%.

    Limbal Or Epibulbar Ocular Melanomas

    Are very rare or less common type. They develop from the melanocytes that make up the limbus _border of the cornea _transparent front part of the eye and the sclera _white part.

    How To Know Your Dog Has Ocular Melanoma

    How Is Subungual Melanoma Diagnosed

    Subungual melanoma is difficult to detect on your own. As a rule of thumb, you should see your doctor right away if you notice any unusual changes or growths in your nail.

    To correctly diagnose subungual melanoma, your doctor will need to conduct a biopsy. It will most likely be a punch biopsy, which is a procedure in which a tube-like instrument with a sharp end works like a cookie cutter to take a small sample. This small sample will be tested for melanoma. The biopsy can also be used to rule out other conditions, such as fungal infection.

    Subungual melanoma that isnt treated can metastasize, or spread to other parts of your body. You can learn more about metastatic melanoma here.

    Your doctor may recommend amputating the finger or toe the melanoma first developed in to prevent this. However, this method is debatable. According to a

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    Research And Future Treatments

    As skin lymphoma is rare, it is difficult for drug companies to conduct clinical trials that are large enough to show that a drug is beneficial and to allow it to be licensed. Many treatments used for skin lymphoma are used off-licence. They are often medicines that are licensed for another form of lymphoma or another skin condition.

    The treatments listed below have been shown to be effective against certain types of skin lymphomas. At the time of writing, they are not routinely available in the UK. Some treatments are experimental and might be available in a clinical trial.

    You can find out more about clinical trials and search for a trial that might be suitable for you at Lymphoma TrialsLink.

    Recurrence In Nearby Lymph Nodes

    Subungual Melanoma: What You Need to Know

    If nearby lymph nodes werenât all removed during the initial treatment, the melanoma might come back in these lymph nodes. Lymph node recurrence is treated by lymph node dissection if it can be done, sometimes followed by adjuvant treatments such as radiation therapy and/or immunotherapy or targeted therapy . If surgery is not an option, radiation therapy or systemic treatment can be used.

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    What To Look For When Checking For Subungual Melanoma

    SMs appearance per the cited, source article:

    Subungual melanoma often starts as a pigment band visible the length of the nail plate . Over weeks to months, the pigment band:

    • Becomes wider, especially at its proximal end
    • Becomes more irregular in pigmentation including light brown, dark brown
    • Extends to involve the adjacent nail fold
    • May develop a nodule, ulcerate or bleed
    • May cause thinning, cracking or distortion of the nail plate .

    These 3 photos are examples of authentic subungual melanomas:

    Why are the Above Photographs referenced as Authentic Subungual Melanomas?

    SMs have the unfortunate characteristic of being very similar in appearance to Black Thumbnail Fungus and Subungual Hematomas. The former is a very common nail infection, and the latter is just an ordinary nail bruise. Both can be annoying and/or painful, but they are easily treatable. Whereas SM can easily be fatal if ignored after being mistaken for either.

    Subungual Hematomas

    These bruises have been incurred by countless people at one time or another. Theyre obtained through accidental actions such as slamming a thumb in a door, or hitting it with a hammer. Pressure generated by the collection of blood under the nail often causes intense pain. Melanomas under the nail are usually painless unless they are late stage.

    This presents another problem as many assume that if something doesnt hurt, theres nothing to be concerned about.

    This photo is one example of a subungual hematoma:

    Causes Of The Melanoma Of The Nail

    We have identified several factors that can lead to the degeneration of cells in a specific area of the skin: trauma, UV radiation, pigment nevi, hereditary predisposition. Now we will try to consider the causes of melanoma under the nail more enlarged.

    To begin with, when we talk about nevi, we suspect mostly moles or birthmarks. In fact, hemangiomas , papilloma , warts also have similar properties . Despite the fact that all such growths are benign, their damage is likely to lead to a change in the properties of cells and malignancy of the process.

    In principle, the cells of any build-up on the skin of the finger, which existed for many years, without bringing much anxiety to the owner, are the main blow to themselves when traumatized, therefore they are damaged more than others. At the same time, the risk of developing malignant processes is higher in this case, and it does not matter where the outgrowth was formed: on the exposed skin or under the nail plate.

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    Natural Cures For Melanoma

    Melanoma is a type of skin cancer which is rare but very serious. Medical professionals say that melanoma can occur in skin that appears very normal to the eye, spreading very fast to affect large parts of the body. This is the reason why remedies should be applied fast for curing melanoma. Know about natural cures for melanoma. However, avoid using herbal treatments if you have sensitive skin. Also avoid venturing out in the sun too frequently if you have a family history of melanoma as UV radiation is the main cause for development of skin melanoma.

    How To Cure Melanoma

    Melanoma On Thumb Nail

    Astragalus

    This herb is the most effective natural remedy for melanoma. The extracts of astragalus have antioxidant, anti tumor and anti inflammatory properties that enhance the immune system of the skin and help in the buildup of anticancer skin cells. The herb is so effective that doctors suggest its use even when the condition of a patient is critical and he/she is undergoing chemotherapy.

    Turmeric Extract

    We already know that turmeric is a very good antiseptic agent and can be used to cure and prevent skin ailments. An extract of turmeric known as curcumin has shown anti melanoma properties in medical tests. This extract must be taken with food or mixed with other medicines for daily consumption.

    Mushroom

    Cordyceps is a variety of mushroom that has been clinically tested to show results against the growth of skin cells that are affected by melanoma.Clean and cook cordyceps mushrooms properly before consumption to avoid allergy or rashes. The element cordycepin in cordyceps prevents the spread of melanoma.

    Green Tea

    The EGCG extract in green tea is an effective herbal treatment for melanoma. If melanoma is detected in your skin, drink at least three glasses of green tea everyday. You can also apply green tea extracts on the affected skin.

    Tea Tree Oil

    The terpinen in tea tree oil is a form of melameuca alternifolia. According to medicine, the latter is a component which stops the in-vitro growth of skin cells affected by skin cancer.

    Rosemary

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    How Common Is Melanoma

    Melanoma accounts for only about 1% of all skin cancers, but causes the great majority of skin cancer-related deaths. Its one of the most common cancers in young people under 30, especially in young women.

    Melanoma incidence has dramatically increased over the past 30 years. Its widely accepted that increasing levels of ultraviolet exposure are one of the main reasons for this rapid rise in the number of melanoma cases.

    What Are The Survival Rates For Metastatic Melanoma

    Survival rates for melanoma, especially for metastatic melanoma, vary widely according to many factors, including the patient’s age, overall health, location of the tumor, particular findings on the examination of the biopsy, and of course the depth and stage of the tumor. Survival statistics are generally based on 5-year survival rates rather than raw cure rates. Much of the success reported for the targeted therapies focuses on disease-free time because in many cases the actual 5-year survival is not affected. It is hoped that combination therapy discussed above will change that.

    • For stage 1 , 5-year survival is ⥠90%.
    • For stage 2 , 5-year survival is 80%-90%.
    • For stage 3 , 5-year survival is around 50%.
    • For stage 4 , 5-year survival is 10%-25% depending upon sex and other demographic factors.

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    Don’t Be Misdiagnosed Know The Signs Of Toenail Melanoma

    What You Should Expect For An Accurate Diagnosis and Effective Treatment For Subungual Melanoma

    A dark spot or streak on your toenail could be a sign of subungual melanoma. It’s often slow and painless growth makes it tricky to catch early. Learn the signs and when to seek urgent treatment.

    We suspect melanoma from a pigmented spot that starts at the bottom of the nail next to the cuticle and makes a black streak on the toenail as it grows out toward the tip of the toe.

    Sometimes you can have a discoloration of the nail fold at the proximal part of the nail and that discoloration of the skin is called a Hutchinson Sign. Seeing Hutchinson Sign on your toenail is a good indicator that you may have a malignancy at the nail matrix.

    Melanoma of the nail unit usually affects the big toenail but any toenail may be involved.

    • Sugungual melanoma orginates from the nail matrix
    • Ungual melanoma originates from under the nail plate
    • Periungual melanoma orginates from the skin beside the nail plate

    It’s often slow and painless growth make it tricky to catch.

    Mistaken For A Bruise

    This NATURAL TRICK can CURE YOUR CANCER

    Many people first mistake subungual melanoma as a bruise.3,4 However, unlike a bruise, the streaks from subungual melanoma do not heal or grow out with the nail over time.4 It can also be confused with normal pigmentation of the nail bed or a fungal infection.2 While you can have a streak or bruising under the nail that isnt melanoma, you should ask a dermatologist to check your nails if you notice any changes.

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    What Are The Signs Of Melanoma

    Knowing how to spot melanoma is important because early melanomas are highly treatable. Melanoma can appear as moles, scaly patches, open sores or raised bumps.

    Use the American Academy of Dermatology’s “ABCDE” memory device to learn the warning signs that a spot on your skin may be melanoma:

    • Asymmetry: One half does not match the other half.
    • Border: The edges are not smooth.
    • Color: The color is mottled and uneven, with shades of brown, black, gray, red or white.
    • Diameter: The spot is greater than the tip of a pencil eraser .
    • Evolving: The spot is new or changing in size, shape or color.

    Some melanomas don’t fit the ABCDE rule, so tell your doctor about any sores that won’t go away, unusual bumps or rashes or changes in your skin or in any existing moles.

    Another tool to recognize melanoma is the ugly duckling sign. If one of your moles looks different from the others, its the ugly duckling and should be seen by a dermatologist.

    Can Changing My Diet Help Prevent Melanoma

    The American Cancer Society advocates eating a plant-based diet over an animal-based diet as part of a healthy plan to avoid all cancers. Growing evidence suggests that plants pack a powerful punch in any fight against cancer because they’re nutritious, cholesterol-free and fiber-rich.

    Theres no doubt that a healthy diet can protect your immune system. Having a strong immune system is important to help your body fight disease. Some research has shown that a Mediterranean diet is a healthy choice that may help prevent the development of cancer. Talk to your healthcare provider about the role food plays in lowering your cancer risks.

    Some skin and immune-system healthy foods to consider include:

    • Daily tea drinking: The polyphenols in tea help strengthen your immune system. Green tea contains more polyphenols than black tea.
    • High vegetable consumption: Eating carrots, cruciferous and leafy vegetables is linked to the prevention of cutaneous melanoma.
    • Weekly fish intake: Study participants who ate fish weekly seemed to avoid developing the disease when compared to those who did not eat fish weekly.

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    What Causes Subungual Melanoma

    Most cases of skin melanoma are caused by sun exposure. This is why dermatologists warn against tanning and unprotected sun exposure. However, subungual melanoma isnt usually caused by the sun. Most cases seem to be caused by injury or trauma. It also tends to affect middle-aged and older adults with darker skin.

    Additionally, subungual melanoma is more prevalent in the nails of your thumbs and big toes.

    Greens And Colored Vegetables

    Melanoma under the toenail?

    Procedure:

    How does this work?

    Certain vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables and spinach have some excellent healing properties. They help maintaining the levels of Omega 3 and 6 oils in the body. Watermelon and carrots are rich in Beta-carotene and tomatoes are rich in Lycopene. Hence consuming these vegetables raw makes great natural cures for skin cancer.

    The Remedy is not Good if:

    There is no reason why this remedy should not be good. If symptoms do not disappear after prolonged use, consult your doctor.

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