Melanoma – A Deadly Form of Skin Cancer

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. It is responsible for approximately 77% of all skin cancer deaths. However, if diagnosed early the cure rate is 95%.

This form of cancer begins in melanocytes which are the cells that give our skin its color. It may begin in a mole but it can also begin in any area of the body that contain melanocytes.

Picture of Melanoma in the scalp.

Melanoma of the scalp

The four types of melanoma are:
  • Superficial spreading
  • Nodular
  • Lentigo meligna
  • Acral Ientiginous<
In men, it is often found on the trunk (the area between the shoulders and the hips) or the head and neck.

In women, it often develops on the lower legs.

Risk Factors
No one knows the exact causes it. Doctors can seldom explain why one person gets this cancer of the skin and another does not because many who develop it have no known risk factors.

It is rare in black people and others with dark skin. When it does develop in dark-skinned people, it tends to occur under the fingernails or toenails, or on the palms or soles.

The chances of developing it increases with age, but it occurs in people of all ages.

Researchers have found that people with certain risk factors are more likely to develop this form of skin cancer.

Some of the risk factors for melanoma are:

  • dysplastic nevi
    •
  • having more than 50 ordinary moles
  • have fair skin
  • personal history of it or other forms of skin cancer
  • have a family history of it
  • have a weakened immune system
  • have had severe, blistering sunburns
  • exposure to ultraviolet radiation
Where Melanoma Develops
It usually begins on the skin but there are many places that it can be found. Some of these are:
  • cutaneous
    • relating to the skin –- develops in the skin
  • ocular
    • develops in the eyelid or pigmented coating of the eyeball
  • meninges
    • the three thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord
  • the digestive tract
    • The organs through which food and liquids pass when they are swallowed, digested, and eliminated. These organs are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and rectum and anus
  • lymph nodes
    • called lymph gland –- One of the jobs of the lymph nodes is to trap bacteria, cancer cells, or other harmful substances that may be in the lymphatic system.
  • nail bed
    • under the nail
  • metastatic
    • This is when the cancer has reached the lymph nodes and cancer cells may have spread to other parts of the body such as the liver, lungs, or brain. When this happens the cancer cells in the new tumor are still melanoma cells, and the disease is called metastatic melanoma, not liver, lung, or brain cancer.
  • scalp
  • mucosal tissue
    • develops in the tissue that lines the nose, mouth, female genitals and urinary tract.
Anyone can develop melanoma but as seen there are some who are at greater risk than others. Since early detection is important to surviving skin cancer we should be aware of the signs and symptoms and take immediate action if we even think there is a problem.

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For More Information About Skin Cancer Visit

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Melanocytes – What Role Do They Play in Skin Cancer
Precancerous Skin
Cure For Cancer
Lip Cancer
Pediatric Melanoma

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