Melanoma

Claude Chambers's ankle had a small spot that looked different. It was red and black. That spot was growing because a melanocyte had become a cancer. He was informed by his personal physician that he had a malignant melanoma.

Melanocytes are the cells that produce melanin. Melanin gives dark or tan color to the skin. But, when one of these cells gets out of control, it can produce one of the most dangerous cancers known. And more than 50,3337 people are told that they have malignant melanoma every year just inside the United States.

Risks for getting Melanoma

The most common risk factor for malignant melanoma known is too much sunlight. When melanoma was first studied, it was found that people who had jobs outside had a much higher risk of melanoma. Furthermore, people who had gotten a sunburn that caused blisters were at risk to get a malignant melanoma.

People with fair skin are much more likely to get malignant melanoma. This might likely be related to the fact that they are more likely to get skin damage by sun exposure. But, this is not a hard and fast fact.

Those who have lots of nevi (moles) are more likely to get malignant melanoma, particularly those who have over 50. Also, those who have a particular type of mole called a dysplastic nevus are at higher risk.

Some people have had other skin cancers successfully treated including malignant melanoma. Those people are more likely to get melanoma.

If you have had other people in your family that have had melanoma, then you are much more likely to get a melanoma as well.

Finally, those who have a weakended immune system get melanomas much more frequently. Whether a person has AIDS, an organ transplant needing medications to curtail the immune system or others using those medications, that person will have a higher risk.

There was one case that exemplified the role of genetics in melanoma. A man who was a chimera got melanoma. A chimera is someone who has two different types of DNA on each side of the body. This may occure when twins are formed and somehow join into one body. The man in the journal article had large metastatic lumps on one side of his body and none at all on the other!

How to Identify a Melanoma

The only way to be sure whether a bump on your skin is a melanoma or not is to have your doctor take it off and get it studied by a pathologist. However, there are some ways to know if you should be suspicious of one of those lumps or bumps.

Irregular Border - A melanoma will usually have an uneven border. The average mole has a sharp border. You can point to any spot on your skin and say for sure whether it is part of the mole or not. This is not the case with melanoma.

Assymetric Shape - The melanoma lesions typically have two halves that look different.

Different Color - Melanomas often will have different parts of the tumor that have different colors.

Size - most melanomas are larger than other moles. And they also tend to grow and may bleed or itch.

If you have a supicious lesion that you have a question about, get it checked by your dermatologist early. By removing the melanoma while it is just getting started gives you a much better chance of survival. Particularly when the lump is still quite small.

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