Cancer

Melanoma is a rare but potentially serious type of skin cancer. Skin cancer is a disease in which skin cells lose the ability to divide and grow normally. These abnormal skin cells can grow and form a mass or “tumor.” A skin tumor is considered benign (not cancer) if it is limited to a few

Experts believe that many cases of melanoma are caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Energy from the sun is a form of radiation. It consists of visible light and other rays that people can’t see. Invisible infrared radiation, for instance, makes sunlight feel hot. UV also is invisible, and causes

Anyone can get melanoma. Certain individuals, however, have several risk factors for melanoma. They are at higher risk for getting the disease than the general population. But risk factors do not cause a disease. Many people with risk factors for melanoma never get the condition. People with higher-than-normal risk include those who have or have

Doctors often spot melanoma during a skin inspection. The doctor should look for growths by doing a complete examination of the entire skin surface during each yearly physical examination. Many people detect melanoma themselves while doing regular skin self-examination. Early diagnosis is important-skin cancer would be almost 100 percent curable if all skin cancers were

If a biopsy shows melanoma, it is important for the doctor to determine what stage it has reached before deciding on treatment. Staging involves measuring the thickness of the original tumor and checking to see if it has spread elsewhere. This may require additional tests, including blood tests, chest x-rays, and scans of the bones,

Treatment of melanoma depends on the disease stage, the individual’s age, overall health, and other factors. Doctors usually develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient. Melanoma treatment often requires a team of specialists. The team may include: A dermatologis/dermatologic surgeon (skin specialist) A surgeon A plastic and reconstructive surgeon A medical oncologist (cancer specialist)

People treated for melanoma should see the doctor for regular checkups because they have a high risk of getting melanoma again. They may develop new melanomas or the old melanoma might recur in the original site or in new places in the body. The risk of recurrence is higher for people with thick melanomas or

The most important way to prevent melanoma is avoiding excessive sun exposure. Prevention must begin in childhood, because most people get about 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18. Keep these facts about sun exposure in mind: Regular, day-to-day exposure is usually experienced by outdoor workers and individuals who spend lots of

Scientists feel both concern and optimism about melanoma. Some think that thinning of the earth’s protective ozone layer may cause more cases of skin cancer in the future. The ozone layer is a band of gas high in the atmosphere. It filters some UV radiation from sunlight. Industrial chemicals, now banned in the United States