Melanoma
A serious form of skin cancer, that can be prevented. Unfortunately I don't think many of us really understand what the danger is.Experts talk about prognosis in terms of "5-year survival rates." The 5-year survival rate means the percentage of people who are still alive 5 years or longer after their cancer was discovered. It is important to remember that these are only averages. Everyone's case is different, and these numbers do not necessarily show what will happen to you. The estimated 5-year survival rate for melanoma is:5
- 98% if cancer is found early and treated before it has spread.
- 64% if the cancer has spread to close-by tissue.
- 16% if the cancer has spread farther away, such as to the liver, brain, or bones.
How can I prevent melanoma?
You can prevent all forms of skin cancer, including melanoma, by avoiding overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays.
- Stay out of the sun during the midday hours (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.).
- Wear protective clothing outdoors, including a wide-brimmed hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and pants.
- Use daily a sunscreen with an SPF of least 15. Look for a sunscreen that protects against both types of ultraviolet radiation in the sun's rays-UVA and UVB.
- Use a higher SPF when at higher elevations.
- Avoid sunbathing and tanning salons. Studies suggest that UV rays from artificial sources such as tanning beds and sunlamps are just as dangerous as those from the sun.3
- Set a good example for your children by always using sunscreen and wearing protective clothing.
Perform a skin self-exam monthly to identify suspicious growths that may be cancer or growths that may develop into skin cancer (precancers). Look for any abnormal skin growth or any change in the color, shape, size, or appearance of a skin growth. Check for any area of injured skin that does not heal. Also, have your health professional check your skin during your regular physical exams, or at least once a year.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the number one cause of skin cancer, but UV light from tanning beds is just as harmful. Exposure to sunlight during the winter months puts you at the same risk as exposure during the summertime.
Cumulative sun exposure causes mainly basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer, while episodes of severe sunburns, usually before age 18, can cause melanoma later in life. Other less common causes are repeated X-ray exposure and occupational exposure to certain chemicals.
Melanona is the most serious skin cancer. Lets see what else overexposure to sun is about:
How Does the Sun Change My Skin?
Exposure to the sun causes:
- Pre-cancerous (actinic keratosis) and cancerous (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma) skin lesions - caused by loss of the skin's immune function
- Benign tumors
- Fine and coarse wrinkles
- Freckles
- Discolored areas of the skin, called mottled pigmentation;
- Sallowness -- a yellow discoloration of the skin;
- Telangiectasias -- the dilation of small blood vessels under the skin;
- Elastosis -- the destruction of the elastic tissue causing lines and wrinkles.
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