Dr Maduka Ogwueleka

MELANOMA: Ten things you may not know about it

Melanoma is also known as Malignant Melanoma. This is to ascertain that it is a deadly skin cancer if untreated. Females are slightly more affected than males. However women diagnosed with melanoma have a better prognosis than men, irrespective of known differences in site of the disease. In the public mind, a major association exists between increased outdoor activity and increased skin cancer rate. In fact, there are no data available to substantiate such a relationship.

Here are nine more things you may not know about melanoma:

·        Melanoma will affect about 54,500 persons in the United States of America, resulting in more than 8,500 deaths.

·        Melanoma can affect adults of all ages, even young individuals (from mid-teens).

·        The individuals most likely to develop melanoma are those with fair complexions, red or blond hair, blue eyes, and freckles and who tan poorly and sunburn easily. Strong family history of melanoma is also a risk factor. Melanoma hardly ever occurs in Africans and Afro-Americans because they never sunburn.

·        Always have a high index of suspicion for changing moles, especially if the edge is irregular and the color/pigmentation changes in any mole.

·        The Melanoma Paradox: ‘Sun exposure is associated with increased survival from melanoma’. Why? Because one of sun’s best effects is to increase Vitamin D, which has anti-cancer effects.

·        Melanomas may spread via the lymphatic vessels or bloodstream. Once widespread disease to lungs, liver, bone and brain is established, the chance of a cure is low.

·        The back is the most common site for melanoma in men. In women, the back and the lower leg (from knee to ankle) are frequent sites.

·        Once diagnosed with melanoma, symptoms such as weight loss, malaise, headaches, visual difficulty, or bone pain may mean that the disease has spread to other parts of the body.

·        Melanomas may occur even in normal skins. You have to see your doctor immediately if a mole or moles become bigger than 6 millimeters, starts bleeding/itching, changes color or the border becomes irregular. Any of these changes may mean that the mole/moles have become malignant melanoma(s).

For more information on malignant melanoma and other common medical problems please visit:

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