Malignant Melanoma Aalayis Suggs

What is a Malignant Melanoma? A serious type of skin cancer, starting in the epidermis, in which the tumor is growing and spreading. Estimated 178,560 U.S. cases in 2018

What Causes it? When there is unrepaired damage to skin cells, it can trigger mutations that cause the cells to multiply too quickly, forming a tumor. Damage can be caused by things like radiation exposure, sunburns, and tanning beds.

Risk Factors Severe Sunburns- Just 1 severe sunburn can double your chances of developing melanoma. Fair skin Family history of melanoma Weakened immune system

Diagnosis/ Identification Excisional biopsy Asymmetry of mole Border irregularity of mole Color variability within a lesion Increasing diameter of a mole, especially to more than 6mm

Prevention Limit UV exposure (sun and tanning beds). Wear sunscreen and protective clothing all year long. Beware of water, snow, and sand because they reflect and magnify the sun’s rays. Nearly 90% of melanomas are considered to be preventable.

Treatment Excision Sentinel lymph node biopsy (to see if it’s spreading) Chemotherapy        - ex. Dacarbazine (DTIC-Dome), which is the only          approved chemotherapy for melanoma