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Melanoma

Alberto Gardner's leg had a small spot that looked different. It was growing and itched. That spot had developed because a melanocyte had grown a cancerous tumor. He was told by his family doctor 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 50,1817 people are told that they have malignant melanoma every year just inside the United States of America.

Risks for getting Melanoma

The most common risk factor for malignant melanoma known is excess ultraviolet rays. When melanoma was first studied, it was found that people who labored out of doors were much more likely to get melanoma. In fact, people who had gotten a sunburn causing blisters were much more likely to get a malignant melanoma.

People with fair skin are much more likely to get malignant melanoma. This may be due to the fact that they are more likely to get skin damage by sun exposure. However, this is not known for sure.

Those who have lots of nevi (moles) are at higher risk for malignant melanoma, especially those who have over 50. Also, those with a particular type of mole called a dysplastic nevus are at higher risk.

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

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

Finally, those who are immune compromised get malignant melanomas 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.

One published case exemplified the role of genetics in malignant melanoma. A man who was a chimera got malignant melanoma. A chimera is someone who has different parts of the body having two different sets of DNA. This may occur 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 Malignant Melanoma

The only way to be sure whether a bump on your skin is a malignant 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 malignant melanoma will typically 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 malignant melanoma.

Asymmetric Shape - The malignant melanoma lesions typically have two halves that are not the same.

Different Color - Malignant 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 something suspicious on your skin that you are not sure 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 a cure. Especially if the lump is still tiny.

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