Melanoma. Symptoms and causes

Practically every person on the body has birthmarks, in more or less quantity. And some of them can go into such a serious disease as melanoma. Symptoms in which you can suspect melanoma: change in size, color and shape of the mole, burning and itching, bleeding or flaking. If the usual birthmark is completely harmless, then melanoma is a formidable disease that develops at a rapid pace.

The risk of melanoma is common to all, but most of all it affects women, especially during the menopause, and people who are too often in the open sun. It is necessary to distinguish between the mole and the melanoma. Its symptoms are as follows: asymmetry of forms, borders (uneven and blurred borders may indicate melanoma), color (transitions from one color to another can also indicate the development of a cancerous tumor).

If melanoma develops, the symptoms pointing to it may be: large diameter (0.6 cm and above), sores, itching. The most dangerous are those birthmarks that are located in a known traumatic zone: on the soles of the feet, palms, hands, they must be removed first. Previously it was believed that you can not remove birthmarks, it is supposedly life-threatening. It has long been proven that this is not true. At an early stage, this tumor can be completely removed surgically, and this leads to complete recovery.

There are certain factors that contribute to the development of melanoma. This injury (rubbing, cutting or removing at home), sunburn, as well as hormonal abnormalities. How does melanoma look like? Symptoms are usually the following: dark color, smooth, slightly shiny surface, bleeding. If one of these appears, you need to see a doctor immediately. If the birthmark is removed specialist, and it did not have cancer cells that already spread metastases - a complete cure is guaranteed.

If the mole began to increase in size, darkened or brightened brightly, reddening and scaling formed around it - this could be melanoma. Metastases can already go further inwards and in width, so you need to immediately seek help from an oncologist. Timely examination can save your life, do not delay with the reference to the doctor, the process can become irreversible.

Endocrine influences can also give rise to melanoma, especially at risk for adolescents who are in the period of puberty, as well as women during pregnancy and menopause. Fortunately, this disease gives warning signals, by which it can be identified and consulted on time to make sure it is really melanoma. The stages of its development are as follows:

Stage 1: the disease is localized only at the site of the primary tumor.

Stage 2: melanoma is increased, but still remains in its original location.

Stage 3: local spread of the tumor.

Stage 4: distribution to other, rather remote organs.

The doctor determines the size of the spread of the tumor along the thickness of Breslow (depth of penetration) and the Clark level (the number of layers of the epidermis). In the early stages, surgical removal of the mole is enough. At later stages, apart from removal, chemotherapy is used, and also radiation therapy is often used.

There are three main types of these tumors: malignant lentigo, surface and melanoma melanoma. The first is mainly localized in the region of the head and neck, the second can appear on the hips and lower leg, the third, nodal melanoma, most often occurs at the age of about 50 years and is characterized by vertical growth. It is considered the most unfavorable of all. In any case, when the primary signs appear, you should contact a specialist for the correct diagnosis and further treatment.