With more understanding of skin cancer, the extent to which it affects people becomes fully known. In fact, it is the most common form of cancer in the United States and Australia to date. It is also becoming increasingly prevalent in many other countries throughout the world.
Whilst this might be alarming, most forms of skin cancer are not life threatening and can be treated. The fact that most of the signs of the disease are on the surface of the skin means that they can be identified and treated early on with complete success.
However malignant melanoma does not fit into this category. If not spotted early and treated it can spread. Ultimately it can be life threatening if not treated early enough. This article will detail what is malignant melanoma and the best ways to avoid getting this disease.
It is generally accepted that any form of cancer is caused based on your genetic predisposition and your exposure to certain environmental conditions. When it comes to malignant melanoma, the environmental condition is thought to be exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB radiation). And the most common source of ultraviolet radiation that we are exposed to is the Sun (however things like sunbeds or tanning salons are just as bad if not worse ).
Depending on your genetic makeup, too much ultraviolet radiation can cause the DNA of one or more cells to mutate. The genes within the DNA transform to be called oncogenes. They promote tumor growth and make the cell cancerous. A cancerous cell will divide and proliferate rather than die like many other cells that are damaged. This proliferation can sometime be rapid and the cancerous cells can become invasive.
Invasive growth harms the surrounding tissues and organs. In some cases the cancerous growths can prevent the organs from functioning or can start to grow into the organs culminating with the destruction of the organ. Should the cancer get into the lymphatic system then it can spread throughout the body. When this occurs it becomes hard to stop the spread and difficult to treat.
Whilst the primary cause of malignant melanoma is exposure to sunlight there are a number of genetic factors that are thought to increase the chances of developing the disease.
Having a family member who has or had skin cancer in the past increases your chances of developing the disease. If your skin burns easily in the sun and turns red rather than tanning then you are more at risk. If you have light colored eyes or blond or red hair then you are more at risk. If you have moles on your body then you are more at risk to skin cancer.
The first signs of a melanoma are typically a brown spot or mark on the skin. It may be hard to distinguish from other moles on your body but keep an eye on it. If it starts to change it’s shape and grow into an irregular shape then it may be more than just a mole. If it starts to change color too then it may be more than a mole. If anything like this happens then see your skin specialist.
As it is impossible to completely avoid the Sun, all you can do to prevent melanoma is to limit your skins exposure to it. This means wearing a hat, sunglasses, clothing that covers as most of your body and sun cream for areas that are open to the Sun.