How Does Skin Cancer Happen
Melanoma is a blazon of peel cancer that tin can spread to other organs in the body.
Signs and symptoms of melanoma
The nigh common sign of melanoma is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole.
This tin can happen anywhere on the trunk, only the most usually affected areas are the back in men and the legs in women.
Melanomas are uncommon in areas that are protected from sun exposure, such as the buttocks and the scalp.
In virtually cases, melanomas have an irregular shape and are more than i colour.
The mole may likewise exist larger than normal and can sometimes be itchy or bleed.
Look out for a mole that gradually changes shape, size or colour.
Types of melanoma
Superficial spreading melanoma
Superficial spreading melanoma are the most common type of melanoma in the UK.
They're more mutual in people with stake peel and freckles, and much less common in people with darker skin.
They initially tend to grow outwards rather than downwards, so they practise not pose a problem.
But if they grow downwards into the deeper layers of peel, they tin spread to other parts of the torso.
Yous should see a GP if you have a mole that's getting bigger, peculiarly if information technology has an irregular edge.
Nodular melanoma
Nodular melanomas are a faster-developing blazon of melanoma that can quickly grow downwards into the deeper layers of skin if not removed.
Nodular melanomas commonly appear as a changing lump on the skin that might be black to red in colour.
They often grow on previously normal skin and most commonly grow on the caput and neck, breast or back.
Haemorrhage or oozing is a common symptom.
Lentigo maligna melanoma
Lentigo maligna melanomas most commonly affect older people, particularly those who have spent a lot of time outdoors. They develop slowly over several years and appear in areas that are oftentimes exposed to the sun, such as the face up.
They develop slowly over several years and announced in areas that are frequently exposed to the sun, such as the face.
To showtime with, lentigo maligna melanomas are apartment and develop sideways in the surface layers of skin.
They look like a freckle, only they're usually larger, darker and stand out more than a normal freckle.
They tin gradually go bigger and may alter shape.
At a afterwards stage, they may grow downwards into the deeper layers of skin and tin course lumps (nodules).
Acral lentiginous melanoma
Acral lentiginous melanomas are a rare type of melanoma that usually grow on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
They tin also sometimes develop around a nail, almost unremarkably the thumbnail or big toenail.
Acral lentiginous melanomas are the well-nigh common type of melanoma in people with dark peel, simply they tin can happen in people with any skin colour.
Amelanotic melanoma
Amelanotic melanomas have little or no colour, but may occasionally be pink or red, or have light brown or grey edges.
Cancer Research UK has more data well-nigh the different types of melanoma.
What causes melanoma?
Melanoma is caused by pare cells that begin to develop abnormally.
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) low-cal from the sun is thought to cause almost melanomas, but in that location's evidence to suggest that some may issue from sunbed exposure.
The type of sun exposure that causes melanoma is sudden intense exposure. For example, while on holiday, which leads to sunburn.
Certain things tin increase your risk of developing melanoma, such as having:
- lots of moles or freckles
- pale peel that burns easily
- red or blonde hair
- a shut family member who's had melanoma
Read more than about the causes of melanoma.
Who's affected
Melanoma skin cancer is the 5th almost common cancer in the United kingdom. Around 16,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed each year.
More than than ane in iv peel cancer cases are diagnosed in people under 50, which is unusually early compared with most other types of cancer.
Over recent years, peel cancer has become much more common in the UK. This is thought to be the upshot of increased exposure to intense sunlight while on holiday abroad.
More than ii,300 people die every yr in the Uk from melanoma.
Diagnosing melanoma
See a GP if yous notice any change to your moles. They'll refer you to a specialist dispensary or hospital if they remember you have melanoma.
In most cases, a suspicious mole will be surgically removed and closely examined to see whether it'south cancerous. This is known as a biopsy.
A biopsy commonly involves removing a pocket-sized sample of tissue. But in cases of melanoma, the whole thing is normally removed from the beginning.
You may also have a test to check if melanoma has spread to your lymph glands (nodes). This is known as a sentinel node biopsy.
Read more than well-nigh diagnosing melanoma.
Treating melanoma
The main handling for melanoma is surgery, although your handling volition depend on your circumstances.
If melanoma is diagnosed and treated at an early on stage, surgery is usually successful.
If melanoma is not diagnosed until an advanced stage, handling is mainly used to boring the spread of the cancer and reduce symptoms. This commonly involves medicines that target specific genetic changes in the melanoma, such as BRAF inhibitors, or medicines that boost your body'due south allowed responses to the melanoma.
Once you have had melanoma, there's a adventure information technology may return. This adventure is increased if the cancer was more than advanced or widespread.
If your cancer squad feels there's a significant risk of melanoma returning, you lot'll need regular check-ups to monitor your health. You'll besides be taught how to examine your skin and lymph nodes to assistance detect melanoma if it returns.
Preventing melanoma
Melanoma is not always preventable, but you lot tin can reduce your chances of developing it by avoiding getting sunburned (even going pink in the dominicus).
Most people get sunburned while on holiday abroad, or in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland during the summertime while doing outdoor activities such as gardening, sunbathing or playing cricket.
On these occasions you need to be very conscientious, particularly if you have pale pare and many moles.
You tin can help protect yourself from sun damage by using sunscreen and dressing sensibly in the sun.
Sunbeds and sunlamps should be avoided.
Regularly checking your peel can help lead to an early diagnosis and increase your chances of successful treatment.
Read more near sunscreen and sun safety.
Page last reviewed: 07 February 2020
Next review due: 07 February 2023
Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/melanoma-skin-cancer/
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