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Nodular melanoma: symptoms, causes and treatment

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It involves the cells that produce the skin pigment melanin. Melanin is responsible for skin and hair color. Malignant melanoma is just one type of skin cancer. Compared to other forms of skin cancer, malignant melanoma has a high risk of spreading to other parts of the body, so the patient should note any unusual changes on the skin surface.

Nodular melanoma

Nodular or nodular melanoma is a type of melanoma or skin cancer that often appears as dark growths that are continuously exposed to sunburn. The most common body part lesions nodular melanoma is the upper body and legs. Nodal growth of melanoma is usually irregular in shape and has uneven edges.

melanomaGrowths that belong to the nodular form of melanoma that is constantly exposed to the growth, so abnormal cells likely to spread to lymphatic system or the blood, which leads to their distribution throughout the body. Melanoma has a tendency to rapid growth into the skin if it is not time to remove.

According to experts, nodular melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, because the growth of the neoplasm penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin in the subcutaneous fat. Most melanomas are characterized by black or brown, but the growths can also be blue, red, white or gray. In nodular melanoma accounts for 10% to 15% of cases of skin cancer. These growths are usually asymmetrical in shape with irregular borders and a diameter larger than other formations of the skin.

Symptoms

melanomaSigns nodular melanoma usually occur in the sun on exposed skin: head, neck, hands and feet. In principle, the nodular form of melanoma can occur on any area of the body. The disease is more common in men than in women, the most common this form in middle age.

The first sign of melanoma is often a change in size, shape, color, or feel of birthmarks on the skin.

  • Asymmetry: one half of a mole or birthmark does not match the second half;
  • Border: irregular, ragged or blurred edges of a mole;
  • Color: different color, ranging from shades of black, brown or yellowish-brown (sometimes red, white and even blue);
  • Diameter: the growth is usually (but not always) larger than 6 mm in diameter.

Unfortunately, in many cases, the symptoms do not manifest immediately, it may take on average up to nine months to notice the skin lesions.

Causes and risks of development

Experts are still not sure about actual development of nodular melanoma. However, it is clear that excessive exposure to the sun, especially when at an early age formed blisters from sunburn, all of which can contribute to the development of melanoma. There is evidence that ultraviolet radiation in tanning salons can lead to the development of nodular melanoma. The risk of melanoma may be inherited.

 solnechnyj klimatRisks for melanoma include the following:

  • Life in a Sunny climate or at high altitudes;
  • Prolonged exposure to high levels of intense sunlight, because of work or other activities;
  • One or more blistering due to sunburn in childhood;
  • Being in a tanning salons;
  • Close relatives with a history of melanoma;
  • The chemicals that can cause cancer such as arsenic, coal tar and creosote;
  • The presence of certain types of moles.

The risk of the development of the hubmelanoma include a weakened immune system due to AIDS, some leukemias, organ transplant, drugs used to treat such diseases as rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment

Cancer cells of the skin and infected tissue, which a cancer must be removed surgically. Exactly how much will be removed tissue, mainly depends on how far the melanoma has grown deep into the skin. If the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, these lymph nodes should also be removed.

So, in the treatment of nodal melanoma are used such methods:

  • Chemotherapy to kill cancer cells that have spread throughout the body.
  • Immunotherapy – based drugs such as interferon or interleukin, which boost the immune system and help the body fight cancer. This method is used along with chemotherapy and surgery.
  • Radiation therapy can be used to ease pain or discomfort. caused by cancer that has spread.
  • Surgical removal of the affected areas.

If time does not begin treatment of nodular melanoma, the disease can lead to death.