Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that has a high potential of metastasis, where the exact time point of its progression to metastasis is difficult to detect (Somasundaram and Herlyn, 2012). It is well known that once an early stage in situ skin cancer is surgically removed or cured, metastasis is unlikely. However, once the cells acquire the characteristics to metastasise, a good prognosis becomes hard to achieve. Rates of metastasis after removal increase with increasing invasion depth and local spread (Ref).
Melanoma not only arises from environmental sun exposure, but also from genetic predispositions. Studies have shown an increased risk with age (Berwick et al., 2015).
The highest risk factor for melanoma is ultraviolet
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Staging of melanoma includes classifying anatomical features as well as histological features. As a patient progresses in stages, the prognosis becomes worse. Major determinants of outcome in early stage patients, are presence of ulceration and tumor thickness (Dickson and Gershenwald, 2011). Stage 0 is considered as in situ and is 100% curable by surgical resection (Mocellin and Nitti, 2011). Stage I is defined as localized melanoma where malignant melanocytes are only found in the epidermis. The survival rate is high at this stage, between 70 % and 95% (Dickson and Greshenwald, 2011). Stage II melanomas have invaded the papillary dermis (Breslow, 1970). The 5-year survival rate for stage II patients is 53% to 82%, depending on the substage (Balch et al., 2009). Stage III patients display regional metastasis to local lymph nodes, and the prognosis is dependent on the number of nodes involved. Nodal involvement can be detected histologically or macroscopically in lymph node biopsies. The 5-year survival rate for stage III patients is between 40% and 78% depending on the substage (Balch et al., 2009). Stage IV melanoma displays distant metastasis to distant skin, subcutaneous and visceral tissues and distant lymph nodes, with a 5-year survival rate of 10% (Dickson and Gershenwald, …show more content…
Chemotherapy is the use of chemotherapeutic agents to treat cancers. Chemotherapy for stage IV melanoma patients is ineffective, and only yields responses of 10-20% (Anderson, Buzaid and Legha, 1995). Single-agent chemotherapy, Dacarbazine, is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved chemotherapeutic agent for treatment of metastatic melanoma. The response rate is approximately 15% at initial treatment, however the effects are not long lasting, at less than 2% survival at 6 years. Combination chemotherapy shows slightly higher response rates compared to single-agent chemotherapy, and remission rates are slightly improved (Bhatia, Tykodi, and Thompson,
Melanoma is an extremely important issue, as 75% of skin cancer deaths in Australia are attributed to melanoma, making it the most dangerous form of skin cancer in the country (AIHW 2010). The AIHW also states that Australia has the highest occurrence of melanoma in the world, with over 12,500 Australians being diagnosed annually, and having a recorded 1500 deaths each year. The Melanoma Institute of Australia states that melanoma is the “most common cancer in young Australians aged 15-39”, and that “rates have doubled in the 20 years from 1986-2006”. The incidence of melanoma is increasing more rapidly than any other major cancer. Owing to the high incidence and mortality rates of the disease in Australia, melanoma is the most life-threatening form of skin cancer in the country, making it a very serious non-communicable disease.
Basil Cell Carcinoma begins in the deepest layer of the epidermis of the skin. The epidermis is known as the top layer of the skin. The skin is composed of 3 layers, the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The basal layer which is part of the epidermis, there are cells called melanocytes, which produce a black pigment called melanin. Melanin is what protects your skin from over exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Over exposure of sunlight can reduce the melanin’s ability to absorb the sunlight and damage the skin. (2)
When people are exposed to UV light, from the sun or, for example, in a tanning booth, the melanocyte cells make more melanin and pack together tighter, resulting in darker skin tones. If the skin is receiving too much ultraviolet light, the melanocytes may begin to grow abnormally and become melanoma during this process.
Chemotherapy is the treatment of a tumor with chemical agents to reduce mass or eradicate a tumor completely. There are certain mechanisms by which chemotherapy inhibits cancer. The first mechanism is cell death by cytotoxicity. Some chemical agents in certain amounts are toxic to cells. The cells die due to the toxic...
The prominent theory today about how and why skin pigment in humans developed with the color diversity that exists today, is that ancestral populations of humans inhabited areas with different UV radiation concentration. As a result, the effects of UV radiation put positive evolutionary pressure on skin pigment to develop for sufficient folate protection and Vitamin D production. For a long time, paleontologists have known that human ancestors had dense hair that covered their bodies. The reason that modern humans lack such covering is probably due to changes in climate and habitation choice, but for whatever reason the dense hair covering disappeared, it ultimately did, rendering the skin much more exposed to both the elements and to UV rays. Scientists believe that in response to this change in UV concentrations, the human skin became tougher, and developed a protective pigment called ‘melanin’ which protects against the effects of UV radiation.
The major environmental risk factor for melanoma is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. People who have fair skin that burns or freckles easily need to be especially careful in the sun as protecting yourself against UV overexposure is an important way you can help reduce your risk of developing melanoma.
Skin cancer has been overlooked for the past few decades because the medical community has been focusing more on internal cancers. But with in exponential rise in recorded cases of skin cancer, it is grabbing attention now. Skin cancer is a serious problem and society is brushing it off so people might sport a nice tan. Even though skin cancer is not the type cancer that people see everyday or have family members develop it as often as say, breast cancer or prostate cancer, that does not make it any less of an important item to keep a look out for.
The patient will also have to undergo surgery to remove the cancer, and the individual will undergo cancer treatment. Melanoma can spread to other parts of the body that are sometimes internal and not visible to the eye. Sometimes a person needs to let their worries fade away for a little bit, and these tanning methods can do that for some people. Tanning helps cope with stress and depression as stated in the text “tanning has been known to improve seasonal affective disorder” which is a type of depression that a person goes through around the same time every year (Banerjee).
In 2013, the United States was said to have an estimated 1.6 million cancer patients. The majority of cancer patients turn to chemotherapy in hope to kill off all the spreading cancer cells so they can have a chance to live again. Chemotherapy is defined as the use of any drug to treat any disease, however people most commonly associate chemotherapy with drugs used to treat cancer. Although chemotherapy could be very effective, the rate of success solely depends on the type of cancer the patient has and could potentially be only one or two percent successful.
Imagine that you are sixteen. You are overjoyed because you have just received your license and can finally drive whenever and wherever you please. A lot of people have been talking about the new tanning salon that has recently opened up in town. You decide to go and check it out, and discover that tanning is something you really enjoy. Tanning becomes an every-other-day occurrence, but after a year, you notice a mole on your leg that you never noticed before. The mole is cancerous, and it is melanoma. You have cancer, and you are only a teenager.
Over all, skin cancer is known to be a very common and dangerous cancer among the U.S.. Although there is no superior or particular cause known for it, it can be reduced by reducing radiation exposure from the sun and also tanning booths and beds. If not attempting to prevent it by staying out of the sun, and seeking not seeking shade and so forth, protection such as longer clothing garments that better cover the body as well as hats and sunglasses can help to eliminate direct exposure and reduce some of the damages that may occur. Certain amounts of sun light are healthy for the body as it provides vitamin- D which the body needs to maintain a healthy life style, though it is crucial not be over exposed as reverse side affects may occur, causing more harm than good.
Indoor tanning is becoming a very popular “hobby”, but most people do not know, or do not care, about its dangerous side effects. Studies show that people who use tanning booths have a much higher chance of being diagnosed with skin cancer. If someone were to start tanning indoors before they turn 30 or 25, the risk of them getting Melanoma peaks, and if they start tanning before they turn 20 or 25, they are much more likely to get basal and squamous cancer.
Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals to cure cancer. Chemotherapy is also known as “chemo”. The term for chemo came from the German bacteriologist Paul Ehrlich around the year 1900. He came up with the term when he was examining aniline dyes and arsenicals as possible treatments for diseases such as syphilis. He envisioned “magic bullets” that would be able to target invading organisms but still leave the host unscathed. This goal has been providing therapeutic benefits without many side effects in all areas of drug development. There has been a lot of success with compounds that modulate normal biochemistry within the body.
Skin Cancer is caused by hereditary factors, overexposure to the sun, and weak immune systems. (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com) One reason people tend to get skin cancer is when someone in your family has passed their genes down to you, known as hereditary. Normally hereditary is one of the causes in the development of melanoma. For all types of skin cancers, overexposure of the skin to UV radiation in sunlight is the most frequently blamed source of skin cancer. “Research suggests that sunburns received early in one’s childhood can lead to skin cancer later in life” (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com). For example, when someone gets sunburned, you usually don’t know till ten to twenty years after and that’s why people don’t get skin cancer till they reach their twenties.
What exactly is Chemotherapy and why would it also kill “good” cells? Cancer could be described as the disease that sends cells out of control, rapidly multiplying the cells, until it harms the body. Chemotherapy is an effective drug treatment intended to treat individuals with various forms of cancer. Generally, this type of treatment is nonspecific, and non-molecular that uses chemical agents to break down all dividing cells. Chemotherapy, or chemo for short, destroys cancer cells, and can also cease the reproduction or spreading of these cells. Despite having apparent benefits, this type of treatment comes at a cost, presenting several disadvantages and side effects. Chemotherapy comes with a heavy burden, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, infections, and fatigue is a few of the short-term side effects. This analysis examines chemotherapy as a type of cancer treatment, as well as evaluating complimentary and alternative medicines.