Detailed Information on Nodular Melanoma

Nov 2
21:40

2008

Juliet Cohen

Juliet Cohen

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Nodular Melanoma differs from other types of melanoma because tends to grow more rapidly in thickness (penetrate the skin) than in diameter. Nodular Melanoma differs from other types of melanoma because tends to grow more rapidly in thickness (penetrate the skin) than in diameter.

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Nodular melanoma is the second most common type of melanoma. Nodular melanoma is known to present with bigger thickness than the other subtypes of melanoma. NM usually occurs on sun-exposed areas like the head,Detailed Information on Nodular Melanoma Articles neck, trunk, arms and legs but can arise anywhere. It is more frequent in males than females, most common during middle age, and generally doesn't grow from an existing mole starting instead as a new growth of its own. In the United States, 1 in 85 people will develop melanoma at some point in their life. The risk of developing melanoma increases with age, but nonetheless the disease frequently affects young.

It can develop at any age; however, it is most often seen in people aged 60 and older. The most common locates are the trunk in men and the legs in women. The lesion is usually asymmetric with irregular borders, but it may also present as a round to globoid exophytic mass of varying size. Growth is rapid both below and above the skin frequently achieving a visible diameter of 1-2 cm or larger. The most important prognostic factor with respect to primary cutaneous melanoma is Breslow thickness.

 There are many risk factors involve family history of melanoma, red or blond hair and fair skin, presence of multiple birthmarks, development of precancerous lesions, obvious freckling on the upper back and high levels of exposure to strong sunlight. Nodular Melanomas is removed surgically. About 95 percent of all patients with melanoma are treated with surgery. Palliative surgery results in minimal morbidity and operative mortality. Chemotherapy: some melanoma patients treated with surgery face a high risk of disease recurrence.

To improve the outlook for these patients employ of adjuvant chemotherapy to kill undetectable cancer cells that remain in the body after surgery. Biological therapy also known as biotherapy or immunotherapy is a new method. It is based on modern molecular biology, immunology and genetics. Biological therapy works either directly against the cancer or indirectly to change the way the patient's body reacts to a tumor. Radiation therapy: rarely used to treat melanoma. For advanced disease, such as when the melanoma has spread to other parts of the body, treatments like immunotherapy are sometimes recommended.