MELANOMA

1. By: Elizabeth Albert MELANOMA

2. What is Melanoma? • “Definition of melanoma: A form of cancer that begins in melanocytes (cells that make the pigment melanin). It may begin in a mole (skin melanoma), but can also begin in other pigmented tissues, such as in the eye or in the intestines. “ Info provided by: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma on September 4, 2011

4. Who discovered melanoma? • In 1787, John Hunter was the first, reported, surgeon to operate on what is now assumed to have been Melanoma. Hunter described it as “cancerous fungous excrescence.” • Frenchman Rene Laennac was the first person to describe Melanoma. He first reported it in 1804 as part of a lecture in France.

5. The “ABC’s” of Melanoma identification • Asymmetry - one half does not match the other • Border- “the edges are often ragged, notched, blurred, or irregular.” • Color- uneven color; shades of brown, black, and areas of pink, red, blue, or grey might also occur • Diameter- The size has changed (usually grows larger). Melanoma are usually larger than ¼ inch or 5 cm.

7. Symptoms of Melanoma • First symptoms include the change in an existing mole or the appearance of an abnormal growth. • Scaling • Itching • Spread of pigments • Oozing or bleeding • A cancerous mole may show a combination of some or all of the listed symptoms.

8. Prevention • Limit sun exposure • Stay out of the sun during midday hours (10 a.m. and 4 p.m.) • Use sunscreen everyday (an SPF of at least 15) • Avoid artificial tanning (increases risk of Melanoma by 75%)

9. Treatment • Surgery- remove cancerous mole or tumor and also some surrounding tissue or lymph nodes. • Chemotherapy • Biological therapy • Radiation therapy (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and biological therapy are to relieve symptoms.)

10. THE END