Melanoma - The Silent Killer
Melanoma
After a recent and very real scare I have decided to do this post to try and raise some awareness.
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer and that forms within the skin's pigment cells. Sometimes Melanoma is associated with a mole or skin blemish, however, a melanoma can form from a perfectly normal pigment cell that has been damaged by UV from sunlight.
The main preventable cause of melanoma is overexposure to UV radiation from the sun or things such as solarium tanning machines (sunbeds). There are many risk factors that increase the chances of melanoma, including people with fair skin, a high mole count, family history and a pattern of sunburns throughout life, especially during childhood.
Melanoma can occur anywhere on the skin, even in areas that receive little or no sun exposure e.g. inside the mouth or on the soles of your feet.
Melanoma's cannot be passed on to other people, however a person's risk of developing a melanoma is hereditary.
The most important way to prevent melanoma is by practicing sun safety, or SLIP, SLOP, SLAP.
Stages of Melanoma
The most important feature of a melanoma in predicting its outcome is its thickness (stage 0 is less than 0.1mm, stage I less than 2mm, stage II greater than 2mm, stage III spread to lymph nodes and stage IV distant spread). The presence of ulceration also predicts a poor outcome.
My Experience
Recently, a close family member went for a routine skin check and a suspicious mole was identified and removed. The test results revealed that the mole contained Stage 2 Melanoma. After a few restless nights before they could see the doctor, it was revealed to them that the Melanoma had all been removed and no blood vessels had grown into the cancer, significantly reducing the chance it could have spread to other parts of the body. As it was a Stage 2 melanoma, they had to have additional skin and tissue removed from around the area to ensure everything had been removed.
The Moral of this Story
If you do not regular skin checks, and you frequently are outside in the sun, then do yourself a favour and have a regular checkup. I also lost a close friend at the age of 18 to a melanoma so you never know when or where it might occur. The key to reducing the risk of this type of skin cancer is to have regular checks and have any suspicious spots removed early before they have the chance to spread.
I truly believe that this family member has 'dodged a bullet' thanks to having a regular skin check up.
Thanks for reading.
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@scooter77 thanks for sharing this post. Having been recently diagnosed with cancer this hits very close to home. While not skin cancer one can argue that cancer is cancer. I appreciate you trying to raise awareness and inform people. I have also started to tell my story on Steemit. I am glad everything turned out okay for your family friend. It is so important to visit the doctor frequently and ask as many questions as possible. Plus if you have an insurance that allows you to schedule your own appointments with specialists, do it!
Informative post @scooter77 I disagree with you on the slip slop slap factor though. Studies have shown that sunscreen gives you cancer.... Slap it on ya doomed and If you don't wear it your doomed anyways. Seems edudsr people in today's age are making black salve and phoenix tears
Educated *
Scary I'm super white and burn really fast. I have has a few bad sunburns in my life too
Melanoma is not the most common of skin cancers, but it is the most dangerous if not found in the early stages.
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Thank you.
omg. it was a great sorrow.
Stage four means... terminal phase... then death.
I pray for you .
thank you for sharing @scooter77 is very useful for maintaining health from skin cancer. hope you are always happy friends.
Thank you for usefull article. I have a brown spot on my leg about 4-5 mm in diameter and I often burn in the sun, there is reason to think