Today is World Melanoma Day

• Lunar. Photo: Istock/LD

  Table of Contents

  1. What? What causes melanoma?
  2. Main symptoms of melanoma 
  3. Treatment
  4. Risks

Melanoma cancer is the leading cause of death from skin diseases. is considered to be the most dangerous skin cancer and also the rarest.

What? What causes melanoma?

The information page of the National Library of Medicine of the United States: medlineplus.gov, indicates that it is caused by changes or mutations in the cells; cells called melanocytes, the cells that produce a pigment in the skin called melanin, which in turn is responsible for the color of the skin and hair.

“Melanoma it can appear on normal skin. It can sometimes develop into a mole. Birth moles can develop into melanoma. Larger moles present at birth are at higher risk of developing into melanoma,” the publication notes.

Main symptoms of melanoma 

A mole, sore, ulcer, or tumor on the skinthey may be a sign of melanoma or another type of skin cancer. An ulcer or growth that bleeds or changes colorcan also be a sign of skin cancer.

Treatment

“Surgery is almost always necessary to treat melanoma. It will be removed. the skin cancer and some of the surrounding tissue. The amount of tissue removed will depend on the of what how deep the melanoma has grown,” reports medlineplus.gov.

Treatment, then, consists of shrinking the skin cancer and treating cancer in other parts of the body, Therefore, the patient could receive chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation treatments, surgery and topical medications that improve the immune system in localized areas.

Risks

You have a chance of getting melanoma cancer:

• If you have fair skin, blue or green eyes, or blonde or red hair

• If you live in sunny climates or at high altitudes

• If you spend a lot of time inhigh levels of intense sunlight, due to work or other activities

• If you have had one or more blistering sunburns during childhood

• If you use tanning devices such as tanning beds