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Melanoma Overview
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that affects the melanocytes, which are the cell that produce the skin’s pigment, or melanin.
Melanoma can develop anywhere on the skin, but are most likely to develop on the chest and back in the cases of men and on the legs in women. The face and neck are other places that commonly develop melanoma, according to the American Cancer Society.
Melanoma is more common in people with lighter skin than those with darker skin, but anyone can develop melanoma, especially in parts of their skin with less pigmentation like the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
Melanoma is one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer because it is lily to spread to other parts of the body.
It is less common than other types of skin cancer including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Melanoma Symptoms
Melanoma is characterized in four stages, with stage one being the least severe and most treatable form of the cancer and stage four being the most advanced and least treatable form of the condition.
The first symptoms of melanoma show up when a new growth appears on a patient’s skin, either in the form of a new point of pigmentation or a growth that looks unusual. Mayo Clinic notes that melanoma does not always start as a mole and can develop from skin that looks normal.
In the cases in which melanoma does develop from a mole, the mole usually develops an unusual shape and color. Melanoma moles can be asymmetrical in shape, have irregular borders, can change color, may grow and change in size and shape.
Less commonly, melanoma can develop in places other than the skin, including the mouth, digestive tract, urinary tract, or vagina, notes Mayo Clinic. These types of melanoma can be harder to spot.
Melanoma Causes
Mayo Clinic reports that the exact causes of all kinds of melanoma is not known, but exposure to UV radiation can increase someone’s risk of developing melanoma. UV radiation exposure can be acquired from exposure to sunlight or tanning lamps.
Additionally, recent research performed by the Harvard School of Public Health has linked certain erectile dysfunction drugs including Viagra to an increased risk of developing melanoma.
Treatment for Melanoma
The best treatment for melanoma is to screen preventatively for the condition if you are at risk for the condition. As melanoma is dangerous and can spread to other parts of the body, it is best to try to catch it as early as possible. Self-screening for unusual growths can help you identify melanoma.
If melanoma is diagnosed by your healthcare provider, you will be given a course of treatment depending on the level of severity of your case.
Early stage melanomas are usually treated by surgically removing the melanoma. if the melanoma has spread beyond the skin to nearby lymph nodes, surgery may have to be performed to remove the affected nodes.
In other cases, chemotherapy, radiation, biological, and targeted therapy can be used to treat melanoma.
Possible Melanoma Complications
Melanoma is a life-threatening disease, and its treatment can have complications of its own. Chemotherapy and radiation can negatively impact a person’s health, and surgery comes with a risk of infection. However, the earlier that melanoma is treated the better a patient’s likelihood for survival.
Lawsuits Filed
Reach MD notes that multiple lawsuits have been filed over the alleged connection between Viagra and an increased risk of developing melanoma. Some of these lawsuits aim to hold Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, liable for a man’s death from melanoma.
