About Skin Cancer
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer, which though less common among other forms of cancers, involves the highest risk. To understand it better, first and foremost, one needs to understand the concept of skin cells.
There are three main types of skin cells, which are: Squamous cells- these are the extreme outer layer of skin cells, which shed regularly as the new ones begin to form.
The next is the Basal cells, which are the cells that lie in the lower part of the epidermis and are the ones that divide constantly in order to form the new cells that would replace the shedding squamous cells.
And finally, there are the melanocytes, which are the cells that can eventually become melanoma—the uncommon yet dangerous form of skin cancer.
The melanocytes are responsible for forming melanin—which is a brown pigment giving one’s skin a tan or brown color.
Melanoma skin cancer is also known by the names of cutaneous melanoma as well as malignant melanoma. Despite being developed into cancer, the melanocyte cells can still form the brown pigment, because of which the tumor can be of tan or brown color.
However, in some cases, the formation of melanin is hindered, due to which the tumor may look pink in color. The tumors can show up anywhere in the body but generally starts from the chest in men, and legs in women. Other than these, it can also erupt in other body areas like eyes, anal areas, genitals, as well as mouth.
Coming to the symptoms of melanoma, one may face appearances of spots on the skin that keep changing in terms of size as well as color.
There’s also an ABCDE guide when it comes to the symptoms of this type of skin cancer, in which A stands for asymmetry, wherein one part of a person’s birthmark doesn’t match with the other part. B stands for a border, wherein the edges of the spots are blurred, blotched, or simply irregular in their shape.
C stands for color, wherein the colors of these spots vary and may often change. D stands for diameter, wherein the diameter of each spot is up to 6 millimeters, and finally E, which stands for evolution, wherein the moles are always changing in appearance.
Other than these, one may also experience redness and itching and other kinds of discomfort on their skin, especially near the moles.
The main mode of treatment of melanoma includes surgically removing the moles from the body, alongside a small region of skin around them.
The additional skin is then sent for a biopsy, wherein if cancer cells are again found in it, then an additional excision is performed once again.