How Do You Know If You Have Melanoma

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.

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.

Early Warning Signs Of Melanoma

The key to detecting melanoma early is to know what to look for and where to look for it. This isnt always easy, as melanoma can be a master of disguise. It may look like an age spot, a bruise, a sore, a cyst, a scar or a dark line beneath your nail. You may not feel a melanoma, but there are times that it may itch, hurt or bleed.

The ABCDE method;may help you determine whether an abnormal skin growth may be melanoma:

• A is for asymmetry: Does the mark look different on each half?
• B is for border: Are the edges jagged or irregular?
• C is for color: Is your lesion uneven in color with specks of black, brown and tan?
• D is for diameter: Is your lesion getting larger?
• E is for evolving or elevation: Has your lesion changed in size, shape or texture over the past few weeks or months?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, or even maybe, see a dermatologist for a proper evaluation. The only way to be sure whether a mole;is melanoma is to visit a doctor.

Other melanoma warning signs may include:

• Sores that dont heal
• Pigment, redness or swelling that spreads outside the border of a spot to the surrounding skin
• Itchiness, tenderness or pain

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What Kind Of Treatment Will I Need

There are many ways to treat melanoma. The main types of treatment are:

• Surgery

Most early stage melanomas can be treated with surgery alone. More advanced cancers need other treatments.

The treatment plan thats best for you will depend on:

• The stage of the cancer
• The results of lab tests on the cancer cells
• The chance that a type of treatment will cure the melanoma or help in some way
• Your age
• Other health problems you have
• Your feelings about the treatment and the side effects that come with it

What Is Subungual Melanoma

Nails are adjoining structures of the skin located in the distal regions of the limbs, consisting primarily of hardened dead cells that contain a fibrous protein called keratin. Nails can be affected by pathologies of the skin and the integumentary system, but they can also be affected as part of systemic diseases.

Subungual melanomaacral lentiginous melanoma

We must differentiate the following categories:

• Ungual melanoma: melanoma that originates from below the surface of the nail.
• Subungual melanoma: melanoma from the matrix of the nail.
• Periungual melanoma: melanoma that originates from the skin next to the nail plate.

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See A Suspicious Spot See A Dermatologist

If you find a spot on your skin that could be skin cancer, its time to see a dermatologist. Found early, skin cancer is highly treatable. Often a dermatologist can treat an early skin cancer by removing the cancer and a bit of normal-looking skin.

Given time to grow, treatment for skin cancer becomes more difficult.

I’ve Been Diagnosed With Melanomawhat Happens Next

Doctors use the TNM system developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer to begin the staging process. Its a classification based on three key factors:

T stands for the extent of the original;tumor, its thickness or how deep it has grown and whether it has ulcerated.

What Is Breslow depth?

Breslow depth is a measurement from the surface of the skin to the deepest component of the melanoma.

Tumor thickness: Known as Breslow thickness or Breslow depth, this is a significant factor in predicting how far a melanoma has advanced. In general, a thinner Breslow depth indicates a smaller chance that the tumor has spread and a better outlook for treatment success. The thicker the melanoma measures, the greater its chance of spreading.

Tumor ulceration: Ulceration is a breakdown of the skin on top of the melanoma. Melanomas with ulceration are more serious because they have a greater risk of spreading, so they are staged higher than tumors without ulceration.

N indicates whether or not the cancer has already spread to nearby lymph nodes. The N category also includes in-transit tumors that have spread beyond the primary tumor toward the local lymph nodes but have not yet reached the lymph nodes.

M represents spread or metastasis to distant lymph nodes or skin sites and organs such as the lungs or brain.

After TNM categories are identified, the overall stage number is assigned. A lower stage number means less progression of the disease.

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What Happens If They Find Melanoma In The Lymph Nodes

If the results of ultrasound scan, FNA or SNB are positive for melanoma, you may need further surgery to remove all the lymph nodes in the area. If no cancer cells are found, the melanoma is unlikely to have spread to other areas .

When melanoma has spread to your lymph nodes, the node usually forms a firm to hard lump. If this occurs between planned follow-up visits, you should let your doctor know immediately.

Biological Therapies And Melanoma

Biological therapies are treatments using substances made naturally by the body. Some of these treatments are called immunotherapy because they help the immune system fight the cancer, or they occur naturally as part of the immune system.;There are many biological therapies being researched and trialled, which in the future may help treat people with melanoma. They include monoclonal antibodies and vaccine therapy.;

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What Causes Subungual Melanoma

Subungual melanoma is more common in Native American, African American, and Asian individuals. It usually has a brown-black pigment, and a blurred border. When melanoma changes, it means size increase and / or growth speed of the nail or the pigment. When there is no apparent change, we speak of nail dystrophy, which person does not improve despite an adequate treatment. Subungual melanoma extension affects to the pigmentation to the proximal or lateral nail fold , or to the free edge of the nail. The family clinical history of melanoma , as well as dysplastic nevus syndrome, are determining factors in the appearance of the subungual melanoma, since the probability of developing this cancer increases significantly. Professional medical research does not consider the development of this cancer due to prolonged exposure to the sun.

Medical and health professionals have found evidence linking subungual melanoma and trauma. 58% of subungual melanoma of the hand is located in the thumb, and 86% of the subungual melanoma of the foot is located in the first finger, probably because of the larger size of the nail bed , also because they are the more exposed to trauma fingers. The morphology can be very variable, from a longitudinal brown band , to a destruction of the nail articulation, or macular lesions in the nail bed extending from the matrix. Up to 20% of subungual melanoma are amelanotic, making diagnosis especially difficult.

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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Complementary And Alternative Treatments

It’s common for people with cancer to seek out complementary or alternative treatments. When used alongside your conventional cancer treatment, some of these therapies can make you feel better and improve your quality of life. Others may not be so helpful and in some cases may be harmful.;It is important to tell all your healthcare professionals about any complementary medicines you are taking. Never stop taking your conventional treatment without consulting your doctor first.All treatments can have side effects. These days, new treatments are available that can help to make many side effects much less severe than they were in the past.;

How Do You Treat Stage 4 Melanoma

The good news is that even stage 4 melanoma can be treated. The sooner the cancer is found, the sooner it can be removed and the higher your chances are for recovery. Stage 4 melanoma also has the most treatment options, but these options depend on:

• where the cancer is
• how advanced the cancer has become
• your age and overall health

How you respond to treatment also affects your treatment options. The five standard treatments for melanoma are:

• surgery: to remove the primary tumor and affected lymph nodes
• chemotherapy: a drug treatment to stop growth of cancer cells
• radiation therapy: the application of high-energy X-rays to inhibit growth and cancer cells
• immunotherapy: treatment to boost your immune system
• targeted therapy: the use of drugs or other substances to attack cancer drugs

Other treatments may also depend on where the cancer has spread to. Your doctor will discuss your options with you to help map out a treatment plan.

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How Common Is It

Overall, skin cancers are the most common cancers in the United States. But melanoma is less common than the other two major types, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma.

Each year about 91,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with melanoma of the skin, according to the American Cancer Society. By comparison, about 3.3 million are diagnosed with one or more basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas.

Positron Emission Tomography Scan

In a PET scan you are injected with a radioactive substance that is taken up by cancer cells. After about an hour you will lie down on a table while the PET scanner takes pictures of areas of radioactivity in your body. This will show up areas where cancer might have spread to around your whole body.

With machines that can do both a PET and CT scan at the same time, the PET scan can highlight areas where the cancer may have spread to and then the CT scan can provide more detailed information about the spread.

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How Does Melanoma Make You Feel

At first, melanoma can cause few symptoms. Some people may have melanoma without any pain or discomfort. In these cases, the only symptoms may be a new or unusual mole or mark.

Sometimes, however, marks or patches on the skin become tender, itchy, or painful. There may also be inflammation surrounding them.

People undergoing treatment for melanoma may experience additional symptoms. For example, chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause fatigue and nausea.

What Do Stage 4 Tumors Look Like

A change to an existing mole or normal skin can be the first sign that the cancer has spread. But the physical symptoms of stage 4 melanoma arent the same for everyone. A doctor will diagnose stage 4 melanoma by looking at the primary tumor, the spread to nearby lymph nodes, and whether the tumor has spread to different organs. While your doctor wont base their diagnosis only on what your tumor looks like, part of their diagnosis involves looking at the primary tumor.

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Prevention And Early Detection

The exact cause of subungual melanoma is unknown, meaning that patients cannot take specific steps to prevent this condition. However, because it may be associated with trauma to the hands and feet, you may want to keep yours hands and feet protected.2 For example, you can protect your hands and feet by wearing gloves during heavy labor, or wearing protective gear and sturdy shoes during sports.

Early detection is crucial to the treatment of subungual melanoma, so be sure to tell your doctor about any changes to your nails.1 You can regularly check your nails, fingers, and toes for any bruising, streaking, or changes.3

Possible Signs And Symptoms Of Melanoma

The most important warning sign of melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color.

Another important sign is a spot that looks different from all of the other spots on your skin .

If you have one of these warning signs, have your skin checked by a doctor.

The ABCDE rule is another guide to the usual signs of melanoma. Be on the lookout and tell your doctor about spots that have any of the following features:

• A is for Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
• B is for Border:The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
• C is for Color:The color is not the same all over and may include different shades of brown or black, or sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
• D is for Diameter:The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across , although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
• E is for Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, or color.

Some melanomas dont fit these rules. Its important to tell your doctor about any changes or new spots on the skin, or growths that look different from the rest of your moles.

Other warning signs are:

• A sore that doesnt heal
• Spread of pigment from the border of a spot into surrounding skin
• Redness or a new swelling beyond the border of the mole
• Change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness, or pain
• Change in the surface of a mole scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a lump or bump

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How Do People Find Signs Of Melanoma On Their Own Skin

Performing a skin self-exam as often as recommended by your dermatologist is the best way. While examining your skin, you want to look for the following:

• Mole that is changing in any way

• Spot that looks different from the rest of the spots on your skin

• Growth or spot on your skin that itches, bleeds, or is painful

• Band of color beneath or around a nail

• Sore that doesnt heal or heals and returns

The ABCDEs of melanoma can help you find changes to a mole, freckle, or other spot on your skin.

The 4 Stages Of Melanoma

Two main things determine the stage of melanoma: The thickness or depth of the tumor and how far it has spread when its diagnosed, explains David Polsky, M.D., dermatologist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. In stages 0, 1, and 2, the melanoma is limited to the skin. In stage 3, its spread to the lymph nodes, small structures throughout your body that help filter fluids and fight infection. In the most advanced stage, stage 4, melanoma cells have broken away from the original tumor, traveled through the body and formed a new tumor somewhere else.

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