MELANOMA is a skin cancer
that arises from pigment
cells called melanocytes. Melanoma is recognized
as the most dangerous form
of skin cancer.
The layer of cells between the epidermis and the dermis, called melanocytes, produces the brown-black skin pigment melanin, which determines the color of the skin and hair. Melanin also helps protect the body from harmful radiation from the sun. Melanocytes form clusters that appear on the surface of the skin as small, dark, flat or dome-shaped spots. These are usually harmless moles. During cell proliferation (the proliferation of body tissue by cell division, an increase in the number of cells or only genomes in polyploidy by mitosis, leading to tissue growth, unlike other methods of increasing its mass), benign spots are formed, usually referred to as moles or nevi. Sometimes, however, the pigment cells get out of control and become cancerous - which means life–threatening melanomas.
Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of all skin cancers, but in most cases it leads to death from skin cancer. First, melanoma cells are located in the epidermis and the upper layers of the dermis. However, as they grow deeper into the dermis, the cancer can come into contact with the lymph nodes and blood vessels. Melanoma cells usually spread first through the lymphatic vessels and glands. Melanoma cells can also spread through the blood vessels of various organs, carrying cancer to the liver, lungs, brain, or other areas.
Melanoma tends to grow in several stages: most melanomas tend to spread and grow over the entire surface of the skin. At this early stage, which can last 1-5 years or longer, the removal of growing melanomas has excellent chances. However, there is a possibility that some of these melanomas are invasive (internal, deep) and should be treated more harshly. Lesions that become domed, at least part of their surface, shows that there has been a downward growth of cancer cells. In some cases, this growth occurs very quickly, within weeks or months.
Types of melanoma:
The layer of cells between the epidermis and the dermis, called melanocytes, produces the brown-black skin pigment melanin, which determines the color of the skin and hair. Melanin also helps protect the body from harmful radiation from the sun. Melanocytes form clusters that appear on the surface of the skin as small, dark, flat or dome-shaped spots. These are usually harmless moles. During cell proliferation (the proliferation of body tissue by cell division, an increase in the number of cells or only genomes in polyploidy by mitosis, leading to tissue growth, unlike other methods of increasing its mass), benign spots are formed, usually referred to as moles or nevi. Sometimes, however, the pigment cells get out of control and become cancerous - which means life–threatening melanomas.
Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of all skin cancers, but in most cases it leads to death from skin cancer. First, melanoma cells are located in the epidermis and the upper layers of the dermis. However, as they grow deeper into the dermis, the cancer can come into contact with the lymph nodes and blood vessels. Melanoma cells usually spread first through the lymphatic vessels and glands. Melanoma cells can also spread through the blood vessels of various organs, carrying cancer to the liver, lungs, brain, or other areas.
Melanoma tends to grow in several stages: most melanomas tend to spread and grow over the entire surface of the skin. At this early stage, which can last 1-5 years or longer, the removal of growing melanomas has excellent chances. However, there is a possibility that some of these melanomas are invasive (internal, deep) and should be treated more harshly. Lesions that become domed, at least part of their surface, shows that there has been a downward growth of cancer cells. In some cases, this growth occurs very quickly, within weeks or months.
Types of melanoma:
- Superficial
spread of melanoma. The superficial spread
of melanoma is the most well-known and
most treatable
type of melanoma. These
are flat, asymmetrical, unevenly colored
formations that usually
grow outward
through the surface of the skin. The superficial
spread of melanoma accounts
for about 70% of melanomas.
In men,
they appear
most often on the back.
In women,
melanomas are most often seen
on the back of
the legs.
- Nodular melanoma. Nodular melanoma appears as a fast-growing brown or black lump, the technical characteristics of which do not always correspond to the definitions described above. It is important to check for this type of melanoma because it is associated with an outbreak of other tumors. Nodular melanoma accounts for about 5% of all melanomas. It is usually seen on the trunk or limbs.
- Malignant lentigos. Malignant lentigos (sometimes called Hutchinson's freckles) usually occur in the elderly and are characterized by flat, mottled, yellow-brown freckles that look like spots with uneven borders. These lesions often appear on the face or other sun-exposed skin areas and usually grow slowly, over a period of 5-15 years before cancer occurs. Malignant lentigo melanomas account for 4-15% of melanoma.
- Acral Lentiginus melanoma. Although rare, Acral Lentiginous melanoma is the most common melanoma among African and Asian populations. It usually appears as a dark spot on the palms, soles, fingers or toes, under the nails or toenails, or in the mucous membranes.
There
are several other types
of melanoma, but they
are relatively rare.