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Melanoma : In Depth - Overview

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Overview

What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is the third most common type of skin cancer, but the one responsible for the most deaths. Other names for melanoma are malignant melanoma or melanoma skin cancer. It begins in melanocytes, which are the cells that give skin its color. Most melanoma tumors are brown or black.
Source:StayWell
Date:November 23, 2004
Statistics About Melanoma
Some people use statistics to try to figure out their chances of getting cancer or of being cured. However, statistics show what happens to large groups of people. Because no two people are alike, statistics can't be used to predict what will happen to a particular person.
Source:StayWell
Date:November 23, 2004
Am I At Risk for Melanoma?
There is really no way to know for sure if you're going to get melanoma. Certain factors can make you more likely to get melanoma than another person. However, just because you have one or more risk factors does not necessarily mean you will get melanoma. In fact, you can have all the risk factors and not get melanoma. Or, you can have no known risk factors and still get this cancer.
Source:StayWell
Date:November 23, 2004
What Can I Do If I Am At Risk for Melanoma?
You have little control over some of the risks for melanoma. But others you do. At this point, the best thing you can do to help prevent melanoma is to avoid overexposure to UV light and to avoid sunburns. To do this, follow the steps below. If you have several risk factors, discuss these with your doctor, who may check you more often for the signs and symptoms of melanoma.
Source:StayWell
Date:April 15, 2006
What Are the Symptoms of Melanoma?
The first symptom of melanoma is often a change in a mole, or the appearance of a new mole that has ABCD characteristics. These ABCD rules can help you tell a normal mole from cancer.
Source:StayWell
Date:November 23, 2004
Anatomy of the Skin
To help you understand what's happening, it may help to know more about the anatomy of your skin. The largest organ in your body, the skin covers you from head to toe. It protects you from injury, infection, heat, and sunlight. It helps regulate your body temperature, stores fat, produces vitamin D, and excretes water and other substances. Your skin is able to sense touch, temperature, and pain.
Source:StayWell
Date:April 10, 2006
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