1. Beware the Blistering Sunburn
A diagnosis of malignant melanoma doesn't have to be fatal. When caught early, this form of skin cancer is completely curable. Assess yourself for risk factors linked to melanoma. Do you have fare skin or a family history of melanoma? Have you had severe sunburns as a child or many years of sun exposure? Your immune system keeps melanoma contained, so a depressed immune system is also a red flag. Certain diseases like HIV infection or AIDS and medications like chemotherapy and steroids depress the immune system.
2. Grab a Pencil
Melanoma starts as a mole. Analyze your moles to look for warning signs of melanoma. A melanoma is usually larger than a quarter inch in diameter. Press the eraser on the end of a pencil against a mole to measure it. If the mole is still visible, its size is a concern. Examine the edges of the mole. Jagged edges are a warning sign. Each half of a mole should be a mirror image of the other. If not, it could be problematic. The color of a melanoma is not uniform. It typically contains several tones of black, brown or tan. Some are even blue, red, gray, pink or other shades. Changes in a mole can signal melanoma. Watch for itching or bleeding. Note any alteration in color, shape, diameter and thickness.
3. Good Odds
Melanoma becomes life-threatening when it moves below the surface of the skin and spreads throughout the body. Fortunately, about 70 percent of melanomas remain confined to the surface of the skin for many years. Through proper monitoring you can get them removed before they become harmful. Dermatologists remove suspect moles and send them to pathologists for analysis.
4. Lymph Nodes Tell All
A diagnosis of melanoma triggers a series of diagnostic procedures. A surgeon removes a small sample of the lymph nodes nearest the melanoma to check for cancer cells. If cancer is present, the lymph nodes are removed to halt the spread of the disease. To determine if other organs have been affected more tests will be done including chest x-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging. A physician who treats cancer will initiate one or a combination of therapies to kill the cancer cells. These treatments include chemotherapy which involves chemicals, radiation which involves x-rays and immunotherapy which boosts the body's immune system.
5. Dodge the UVs
To prevent melanoma curb your exposure to ultraviolet light rays. Limit your time in the sun. Apply a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor daily. Wear protective clothing. Your prevention plan should include a self-check of your moles every two months. If you have a family history of melanoma, schedule regular appointments with a dermatologist. Adults should make a yearly visit, and children should be examined twice a year.
