Melanoma (from Greek μέλας — melas , dark ) is a malignant tumor of melanocytes . Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin , which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye (see uveal melanoma ). Melanoma can originate in any part of the body that contains melanocytes. Melanoma is less common than other skin cancers . However, it is much more dangerous and causes the majority (75%) of deaths related to skin cancer. Worldwide, doctors diagnose about 160,000 new cases of melanoma yearly. The diagnosis is more frequent in women than in men and is particularly common among Caucasians , especially northern Europeans living in sunny climates, with high rates of incidence in Australia, New Zealand, North America (especially Texas and Florida), Latin America, and Northern Europe, with a paradoxical decrease in southern Italy and Sicily. This geographic pattern reflects the primary cause, ultraviolet light (UV) exposure crossed with the degree of skin pigmentation in the population According to a WHO report, about 48,000 melanoma related deaths occur worldwide per year. The treatment includes surgical removal of the tumor, adjuvant treatment, chemo- and immunotherapy , or radiation therapy . The chance of a cure is greatest when the tumor is discovered while it is still small and thin, and can be entirely removed surgically.
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Premium Questions (110)
I just had a squamas cell mole reoved, the doctor said not to worry about it and doess not planning to do anything mor.I hace add the mole since child hood but started growing a year and a half ago so I have had the caner that long for about 2 my...
i have two moles im worried about, one is new, it has developed in the last year, the other was colerless and has now started turning brown with a darker spot in the middle, the new one had funky edges, the fade in color untill its the same as my...
Three Melanomas - Scared to death
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I am a 54 year old, light-skinned female who has not spent alot of time in the sun. While I was burned a few times as a a teenager, I've used sunblock and have avoided the sun most of my life. I...
Is cervical lymph nodes on the right side of your neck connect to klippel syndrome. Small sub occipital craniotomy for decompression of foramen magnum. Posterior instrumentation and stabillization with later mass...
I have a spot that looks exactly like melanoma appear overnight? Can that happen. It is also on my arm and I have had XXXXXXX tissue arm pain for about a week?
I had 2 sentinel lymph nodes removed from the groin after excision of a melanoma. Now can I best prevent getting a seroma.
Hello.
I think I heard my dermatologist say if someone has 20 atyplical moles on each forearm, that could be an indication of FAMM. But, I am not sure if he said 20 atypical moles or 20 moles. Do you...
Dysplastic Nevi
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Hello.
Over the course of 12 months, I have had several moles removed. Four were mildly dysplastic and 1 was moderate and required further extraction. Right now, I do not think I have any other...
Skin cancer concern :
Thank you for this service.
I am stressing with worry so I would really appreciate some insight.
Almost two years ago I was diagnosed with a nodular basal cell carcinoma on my right cheek. At the time, it was...
hello i have been told to take 100mg of aspirin each day..i have paraxysmol af..i also have flecanide as a pill in the pocket treatment...is this a good regime....
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Online Doctor Chat (24) - Melanoma
Doctor : hi
User : Hello
Doctor : how can i help you
User : I wanted to ask about a possible cancerous mole
Doctor : ok
Doctor : proceed
User : was washing my hair yesterday and i noticed a mole on my scalp, i knew it was there anyway but...
User : I have a new, weird-shaped mole-like bump on my back. It s brown and I don t remember seeing it before now. I am concerned because it s not symmetrical like I was told they re supposed to be. If it helps, I am 15 years old and I did get a...
Doctor : Hi
Doctor : I am Dr. XXX
Doctor : Please go ahead with your medical query
User : Nice to meet you
User : I was curious if there were any concomitant conditions that a patient with advanced melanoma should keep an eye out for during...
User : Hi
User : Hi
User : How can I help U?
User : I had a query about freckles
User : Yes
User : Is it possible to completely remove freckles?
User : Well there are some options
User : ok
User : To get a better picture I need this...
Doctor : hi
User : hello how r u?
Doctor : 'how can i help U/
Doctor : r u there?
User : i have stage 3 melanoma cancer...... had first op 20months ago....have just been told its back and want to know what my surviail rate is
Doctor : well...
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Public Forum (222) - Melanoma
1 Answer
My husband was recently diagnosed with melanoma . His doctor was telling him about what they were going to do to treat it. Radiation is one of the things along with surgery . We have only been married for a year now and we want to have a family. Can radiation effect the sperm ? And would it be a good idea to have some frozen ?
Hello, I am 32 years old female and I have been observing new moles on my hands, feet , chest and face for over a year now. The new moles are darker in color compared to most of my original moles. Also two of my original moles are slightly bulged out (not flat as they sued to be). And two of my original moles seem like gradually fading away. All...
1 Answer
Hi my 20 month old fell down a flight of stairs. Two days later, I discovered a small pea size ball under his skin on the back of his neck at the bottom beginning of his hairline. What could this be...is this due to his fall I have read a lot of scary things online about a type of cancer I m terrified to go to the docs tomorrow
1 Answer
hi, i went on the vertical sunbed for 6 minutes today and around 4 minutes into the session i started to feel really light headed and dizzy and was sweating alot to, i opened the door to get out because i didnt fell well and fainted once id stepped out. the sunbed was still really warm from the last person who used it so is it possible it was...
1 Answer
My husband 2 wks ago had a itchy spot on his left chest/shoulder junction area --then it turned to a red rash (incredibly burning and itching (24 hrs) keeping him up most of the nights for these 2 wks) then additionally --spread across chest then up on left sideburns then--jumped to right sideburn area, --then neck--then forehead.. We ve used...
1 Answer
yes can you tell me what cancer looks like when it comes though the skin i need to no
2 Answers
I have sore on my arm the wont heal. It has grown to the size of a dime and now is raised and is painful to touch. It is pink in color. What is the likelihood this could be skin cancer
1 Answer
Hi, my friend had found a brown spot near her genital area she is worried it s skin cancer , because it doesn t hurt, itch or bother her, but she noticed it s brown, looks like her skin and feels like her skin, what could it be?
1 Answer
i have a mole on my forearm . it is relatively flat and lightbrown in color. this past weekend i noticed swelling around the mole about one inch in diameter. it does not hurt itch or bother me in any way. I went to my PCP yesterday and he did not seem concerned about it. He told me to wear sunscreen and to monitor the mole and let him know if it...
2 Answers
My child has a blended white patch on the right cheek adjacent to mouth. She also has similar one on her right leg below nee on the calf area. Is it Alba or Vitiligo or just a simple infection. Our Doctor seemed to think that Alba does not happen on leg, so he is ruling it out and other two are possible with infection a more possibility. Thanks
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