Melanoma: What Should You Know?
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that originates in the skin’s pigment cells, called melanocytes. Although melanoma is less common than some other skin cancers, it is clearly more malignant, as it can sometimes spread rapidly to other parts of the body. The purpose of this text is to increase awareness of melanoma, its symptoms, risk factors, and prevention.
What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma usually develops on the skin, but more rarely it can also occur elsewhere in the body, such as on mucous membranes or even in the fundus of the eye. Melanoma often begins as a new, irregular mole or skin change, approximately 70% of melanomas, or as a change in an existing old mole, approximately 30%. Melanoma can spread through the lymph nodes or bloodstream to other parts of the body. In Finland, nearly 2,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma each year, and more than 200 people die from it.
Symptoms
The most important early sign of melanoma is an abnormal mole that appears on the skin or changes in an existing old mole.
Examples of changes:
- Asymmetry: One side of the mole changes in relation to the other side.
- Borders: Uneven, jagged, or blurred borders.
- Color: The mole has several colors, such as brown, black, reddish, white, or blue.
- Diameter: Over 6 mm, especially if the size has changed rapidly.
- Change: The mole changes in size, shape, or color.
Risk Factors
Certain factors increase the risk of melanoma:
- UV radiation: excessive exposure to the sun’s UV radiation or tanning beds.
- Sunburn: the development of melanoma does not require sunburn, but sunburns clearly increase the risk. Sunburn during childhood increases the risk especially significantly.
- Skin type: fair-skinned people who burn easily are at greater risk.
- Family history: melanoma in the family increases the risk.
- Moles: a large number of moles or atypical moles.
- Weakened immune system: for example, people who have received an organ transplant.
- Previous melanoma: having had melanoma previously increases the risk of another melanoma.
Prevention
The risk of melanoma can be reduced in the following ways:
- Sun protection: Use sunscreen, SPF 50, sunglasses, and protective clothing.
- Sensible sun behavior: avoid direct sun exposure especially when the UV index is 3 or higher. The UV index can easily be seen in many phone weather apps.
- Avoid tanning beds: Artificial UV radiation increases the risk of melanoma.
- Regular checks: Check your skin regularly and see a doctor if you notice changes in your moles.
Treatment
The treatment of melanoma depends on its stage. Options may include:
- Surgery: The most common treatment, in which the melanoma and surrounding tissue are removed. In superficial melanoma, surgery is sufficient as the only form of treatment.
- Immunotherapy: Drug treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer.
- Chemotherapy: Used in advanced cases.
- Radiotherapy: Used in the treatment of certain melanomas.
Finally
Melanoma is serious, but when detected at an early stage, it is very treatable. The most important things are to be aware of the risks, protect your skin from the sun, and see a doctor if you notice changes in your skin. Awareness and prevention play a key role in fighting melanoma. Take care of yourself and your skin!
Share this information with your loved ones and help spread awareness of melanoma. Together, we can reduce the impact of this serious disease. At Muotosairaala, skin cancer diagnostics and treatment are carried out as multidisciplinary work by dermatologists and plastic surgeons.