What is Melanoma? -Melanoma originates from melanocytes, which are intricate pigment producing cells. -These cells produce pigments, which give skin its natural color.

What is Melanoma? Moles are caused by the same melanocytes that control skin pigment, these melanocytes group together with surrounding tissues to form dark non- cancerous marks. Although most moles are harmless and do not develop into melanoma, they represent a stage in the development of melanoma.

Melanoma Growth Mole (nevus) begins as a small, rounded light pigments on outer layer of the epidermal layer of the skin. Moles change is shape color and size and pigmentation expands into deeper layers of skin. This is the first stage of melanoma Mole size keeps changing and irregular edges form. Melanoma is now fed into blood vessels, increasing its chances of spreading. Mole is now raises beyond 5 mm, and pigmentation continues to reach deeper layers of the skin

MOLEY MOLEY MOLEY!!!

UV Radiation As living micro organisms cells grow and reproduce, they do this by replicating their DNA. When exposed to the harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, DNA is altered and damaged, thus the cells that are more vulnerable to change are at risk of mutating.

The Effects of Sunlight Sunlight causes a photoreaction between neighbouring thymine molecules to cause thymine dimers. There is a repair mechanism that reverses the reaction. DNA repair mechanism is a photo chemical process that involves the enzyme photolyase and the enzyme FAD. Photolyases helps repair UV damage of DNA by splitting the Cybutane ring between thymine dimers.

Main Research Methods Clinical Research This method concentrates specifically on new surgical techniques, clinical trials of chemotherapeutic agents, the development of new diagnostic instruments and behavioural research designed to assist people with melanoma to cope more effectively with the disease and to influence its outcome

Main Research Methods Genetics Research A large collection of familial melanomas from the basis of the search for specific genes responsible for the familial and the sporadic form of melanoma. Some specific genes have already been detected and work is progressing on the development of a battery of tests to identify those at specific risk for the development of a melanoma.

Main Research Methods Immunobiology Melanoma is known to cause autoimmune disease in many people as it causes reactions in the body which can be identified and perhaps manipulated to both prevent melanoma recurrence and treat the established disease. This method of research aims to identify the important reactions in the tissues which underpin the immune reaction to the developing melanoma. Immunotherapy trials aim to produce a vaccine to prevent the recurrence of melanoma and perhaps to treat the established disease.

ABCD Rule A is for ASYMMETRY: One-half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other. B is for BORDER IRREGULARITY: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. C is for COLOR VARIATION The color is not the same all over, but may have differing shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of red, white, or blue. D is for DIAMETER: The area is larger than 6 millimetres (about ¼ inch -- the size of a pencil eraser) or is growing larger.

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