Sunscreen, big hats, UPF clothing – you probably know how to protect yourself from harmful sun rays that can cause skin cancer. You may have heard of melanoma and know that it is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. But did you know that melanoma can spread to parts of the body other than the skin?
Melanoma is a cancer that occurs when melanocytes (color-producing cells called melanin) become abnormal and out of control. One reason melanoma is so dangerous is that it grows quickly and can easily spread to other parts of the body.
Here’s what you need to know about metastatic melanoma.
What is Metastatic Melanoma?
In metastatic melanoma, the cancer spreads to other parts of the body. When cancer metastasizes, it is considered more advanced and more difficult to treat.
Melanoma can spread to:
- Other parts of the skin
- Eyes
- Brain
- Lymph nodes
- lung
- liver
- abdomen
- Bone
How does melanoma spread?
Melanoma cells typically spread by entering the bloodstream and then traveling to other parts of the body. Sometimes melanoma cells first pass through the lymphatic system, the tissues and organs that help your body fight disease. In this case, the melanoma cells can enter the bloodstream more easily and spread more quickly.
There are no clear signs as to whether or when melanoma will spread to other parts of the body. Detecting melanoma early is the best way to prevent it from spreading. If it spreads, it is more difficult to treat. And melanoma is not diagnosed early in every person with the same frequency. About one in three black patients are diagnosed at an advanced or metastatic stage (stage 3 or 4), compared to just over one in ten white patients.
What are the risk factors for metastatic melanoma?
Certain factors can increase the risk of developing metastatic melanoma:
- A close family member, such as a parent, child or sibling, has the disease
- Have one or more severe, blistering sunburns during your life
- You are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or tanning beds
- Having more than 50 moles on the body
- Live near the equator or at higher altitudes
- Have fair skin or eyes or blonde or red hair
- It’s easy to get freckles or sunburn
- A weakened immune system due to an illness or medication
What are the symptoms of metastatic melanoma?
Because up to 8 out of 10 melanomas occur on normal-looking skin, they can be difficult to find. Understanding the symptoms of melanoma and getting regular skin exams from a dermatologist can lead to an earlier diagnosis before the melanoma spreads.
Know your ABCDEs:
A – Birthmarks or growths that are present asymmetrical
b – Birthmarks or growths that are irregular in shape Border
C – Moles or growths with multiple ones Colors
D – Moles or growths with a diameter bigger than an eraser
E – Birthmarks or growths that have further developed to a larger size or thickness
Melanomas can look different in people with darker skin. Consider CUBED for areas of skin not normally exposed to the sun:
C – Colored Growths on parts of the skin where there is normally no color
U – There is one unsure Diagnosis of growths on the skin
b – The growth or lesion is Bleeding or leaking liquid
E – The spot grows or develop further in size and shape
D – There is one delay in healing. The growth will take longer than two months to heal.
If melanoma spreads to other parts of the body, other symptoms may occur:
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Bone pain
- Holy crap
- shortness of breath
- Seizures
What treatment options are there?
Treatment for melanoma depends on your individual health, the type of tumor, and how far and where the cancer has spread. Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the original tumor and any tumors in the lymph nodes. Radiation therapy to shrink tumors is sometimes given either alone or in combination with surgery. Chemotherapy is also a treatment option but is not typically used as a first choice for melanoma.
Another treatment option is immunotherapy. This style of treatment involves oral or intravenous (through a vein) medications that work with your immune system to attack and kill cancer cells. There are different types of immunotherapy. Which one you receive depends on the type of tumor you have and whether there are genetic mutations in your tumor.
Prevention is key
You can’t change the genes you’re born with, but you can prevent other risk factors. A healthy diet, avoiding tobacco and alcohol (which can weaken your immune system), strict sun protection, and annual skin exams can help reduce your risk of developing melanoma.
This educational resource was created with support from Merck.
From your website articles
Related articles on the Internet
