Melanoma
What is Melanoma?
Melanoma is a very serious type of skin cancer. The cancer starts in skin cells known melanocytes. Even though melanoma primarily affects skin cells, it also can grow in the eyes (uveal melanoma). Melanocytes are made up of melanin, which provides skin color and protects the deeper layers of the skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
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.
What different types of melanoma exist?
Melanomas fall into 4 categories. Three types of melanomas are categorized as in situ – meaning they affect the top layers of the skin; this category of melanoma also has the potential to become invasive and damage deeper skin layers, which happens over an extended period of time. The last type, known as invasive melanoma, penetrates deeper skin layers from the outset. Invasive melanomas are considered more dangerous as they have greater potential to spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.
Superficial spreading melanoma spreads slowly on the top layers of the skin before it may begin to penetrate deeper layers of skin. A flat or slightly raised, discolored (tan, brown, black, red, blue or white), and asymmetrical patch of skin. are likely indicators of its presence. In this regard, superficial spreading melanoma may begin with previously benign mole. This type of melanoma is more common in young people, and it accounts for 70 percent of all melanoma diagnosis.
Lentigo maligna spreads slowl...
... middle of paper ...
...ially during the hottest times of the day. Also, wearing protective sunscreen while outside is effective at reducing the impact of UV rays on skin.
A regular skin exam (every 6-8 weeks) will help in the melanoma dectection process. Look for irregular skin growths and have the growth examined by a health care provider if the growth promotes cause for alarm.
Famous people with melanoma:
- Elizabeth Taylor, actress
• http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-207_162-522030.html
- John McCain, Arizona Senator
• http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=14443
Melanoma cancer survivor:
Created by: Mikayla D. Williams
Peer Reviewed by:
-
-
Websites:
- http://www.melanoma.com/whatis.html
- http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma
Melanoma is a non-communicable disease and according to the Melanoma Institute of Australia, is a malignant skin cancer that affects thousands of individuals. It is a prevalent and serious non-communicable disease, making it an important issue in Australia. Both a biomedical perspective and sociological perspective must be considered to enable health practitioners to have a deep understanding about melanoma, and thus allow them to develop efficient and effective treatment and prevention methods.
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)
Malignant melanoma is usually diagnosed by the doctor looking at a certain area in the skin that might raise concern. The doctor will then perform a skin biopsy which is known as removing all or a part of the skin area that is infected while under a local anesthesia and sending the specimen that was collected to a pathologist to be looked at. The skin biopsy report might show an atypical mole, a melanoma that might need surgery, and a benign condition that doctor wont need to treat. Some doctors might also use a technique called dermatoscopy which is when they cover a suspicious spot with oil and examine it with a brightly lit magnifying instrument.
Happy endings don’t come with ill-gotten wealth but yet, the taunting spirit of greed leads characters like Marion and Tom Walker into their fateful death. In the short story, "The Devil and Tom Walker", written by Washington Irving, is about Tom Walker who starts out with a miserly life with a grouchy wife to only make a pact with the devil and live as a corrupt money lender. In the movie, Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock is about Marion Crane who steals forty-thousand dollars from a rich client, runs away and stops at the Bates Motel. She is killed by "Norma" Bates, a second personality of Norman Bates and her murder is left to be resolved to her sister, Lila and her boyfriend, Sam. These two plots share a main character that comes from meager backgrounds and have an opportunity to gain wealth but from unethical means. Both
Tanning can be harsh to your skin. The light coming from the sun contains different wavelengths of ultra violet (UV) waves. The two types of waves concerned about are UVA rays and UVB rays. UVA rays are long waves that cause more damage than a UVB ray. UVA rays penetrate deeper into your skin and cause tanning (“The Dangers of”). More and more exposure to UVA rays can cause permanent damage ...
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.
Tanning affects the human skin through ultraviolet radiation, part of the spectrum of light that omits from the sun to the surface of the earth. Ultraviolet A rays are the longer ultraviolet rays that are projected, and these rays penetrate deep into the layers of skin, causing a tanning effect (Harvard Women's Health Watch, 2). It does this by penetrating into the lower layers of skin, or the epidermis, and triggering cells known as melanocytes to make melanin, the brown pigment that causes tanning (Hyde, Patrice, MD, 1). They account for most of the ultraviolet components emitted by lamps in tanning beds, because they are associated with an almost immediate tanning effect (Brady, Mary S, 2). The shorter rays are ultraviolet B rays, and these rays only reach the outer superficial skin cell layer, also known as the epidermis (Harvard Women's Health Watch, 2). UVB rays, therefore, are the actual cause of sunbur...
The importance of skin-to-skin care for the childbearing family is that every newborn can benefit. Skin-to-skin is valuable because it promotes thermoregulation, cardio-respiratory stability, breast milk supply, and mother-infant bonding (Hugill, 2015; Baker-Rush, 2016; Gregson, 2011; Pigeon Turenne, Héon, Aita, Faessler, & Doddridge, 2016). The nurse’s role in skin-to-skin is to educate women and their families of its benefits. The nurse will be able to implement the carative factors of a teaching-learning experience with the parents, develop a helping-trusting relationship, as well as tend to basic human needs of the patients (Watson, 2008).
The first sign of melanoma is often a change in the size, shape, or color of an existing mole or the appearance of a new mole. Men most commonly develop melanoma on the trunk, particularly the back, and women on the legs or arms. Melanoma develops in a manner similar to other cancer types. A cell's DNA genes, which control cell division and reproduction, become damaged. The damaged genes cause the cell to divide and grow without control or order, eventually becoming a malignant tumor.
The behaviour is including several sun-protective practices, such as use sunscreen, seek shade, slide on sunglasses, slap on a hat and wear long clothing under the sun. (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012)
Melanin helps reduce the absorption of wavelengths into the skin (Chaplin, Jablonski, 59). The more melanin in the skin, the greater the protection against harmful UV rays, and the amount of melanin in the skin correlates with the skin’s color (more melanin means darker skin)....
Basal and squamous cell skin cancer are the most common forms of skin cancer. Multiple studies have shown that these cancers are almost always connected to large amounts of sun exposure. This can come from things like outdoor sports, performing something outdoors with little coverage from clothing, and getting multiple severe sunburns. You can see signs of skin cancer inside and outside of your body. Rough, thick, dry skin patches are common symptoms, but things
amount of UV exposure absorbed by a person is a direct result of the intensity of the light absorbed, the length of time of the exposure, and whether or not the skin was protected by clothing or sunscreen. Skin damage can be prevented by limiting when and how long one is exposed to sunlight, and by wearing protective clothing and sunscreen. Avoid exposure to sunlight during mid-day hours, when it is most intense. Tight weave clothing, and hats, protect against the sun's rays. Tanning beds, while popular, are also ...
Skin cancer is a disease where cancer (malignant) cells are found on the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). The three types of cells found in the epidermis are squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes. These cells in time grow to be cancerous. Thus, the three types of skin cancers are squamous cell, basal cell, and melanoma. Melanoma is the most deadliest and destructive type of cancer. (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com) The number of people with melanoma has risen in Scotland from 3.5 in 1979 to 10.6 per 100,000 in 1998 for men and 7.0 to 13.1 for women. (Miller 945) Squamous cell and Basal cell skin cancer can kill up to 2,200 people a year in the United States. (Sommerfield SIRS.com) Basal cell, being the most common type of skin cancer, is the cancer that about 75 percent of the people have. (“Skin Cancer “ infotrac.com) Melanoma is mostly seen in older men but ever since tanning came in during the 1970’s, it has increased in women 60 percent around the ages 15-29 over the past three decades.(Sommerfield SIRS.com) “And basal cell and squamous cell cancers are increasing at a rate of about 5 percent per year”(Sommerfield SIRS.com).
Probably the most commonly used word by your dermatologist, your beautician, your pharmacist or just the girl next door, and for a good reason. The sun’s damaging UV rays can single-handedly destroy your skin over time and in some cases even cause irreparable damage. It will burn your skin, dry it out, destroy collagen fibers and predispose you to cancer. Whether it’s a scorching sun or not, whether you are outdoors or not, sunscreen is an everyday must-wear. You have a choice.