Melanoma
Melanoma is the third most common form of skin cancer (behind basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas). It is also the most dangerous form, growing rapidly from a typically dark lump, mole or mark under the skin.
Melanomas originate from alterations in cells known as melanocytes that generate skin pigments known as melanin. It can develop anywhere on the body and typically looks like a mole without any additional symptoms.
It is the most common and dangerous cancer for young Australians aged 15 to 39. It causes five deaths each day in Australia. Doctors diagnose over 13,000 Australians with melanoma annually in Australia.
What Does Melanoma Look Like?
Melanoma typically looks like a mole without any additional symptoms. It can appear as a dark lump, mole, or mark under the skin. If you notice any unusual or changing moles on your skin, it's essential to consult a skin cancer specialist for further evaluation.
Melanoma Pictures and different types
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can present in various forms. The different types of melanoma include:
1. Nodular Melanoma: This type grows vertically into the skin and is often recognized by its rapid growth.
2. Amelanotic Melanoma: This is a type of melanoma that lacks pigment, making it challenging to diagnose visually.
3. Acral Lentiginous Melanoma: This type commonly occurs on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or under the nails.
4. Superficial Spreading Melanoma: This is the most common type of melanoma, growing horizontally on the skin's top layer.
Different types of melanoma need different treatments. It's important to see a skin cancer specialist for the right diagnosis and care.
What are the risk factors for getting a melanoma?
The risk of getting melanoma goes up with UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds. This is especially true if you have had sunburns, particularly during childhood.
The risk of melanoma is heightened for individuals who have:
- exposure to UV radiation without protection
- a past of childhood sunburn and tanning
- a history of brief, intense exposure to UV radiation
- a large number of moles– over 50 on the body and more than 10 above the elbows on the arms
- an increased count of abnormal moles (dysplastic naevi)
- weakened immune systems
- a family history of melanoma in a close relative
- light skin, a propensity to burn instead of tan, freckles, light eye color (blue or green), light or red hair color
- a history of melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer
Melanoma Treatment In Melbourne
How is melanoma treated In Australia?
Doctors in Australia typically treat melanoma through various methods such as surgery, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Surgery is the main treatment for early melanoma. Advanced cases may need more treatments like lymph node surgery or immunotherapy.
Doctors also use radiotherapy for early-stage melanomas. It's essential to consult a skin cancer specialist for the most appropriate treatment plan tailored to individual cases.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy is a good option for treating melanomas that cannot be removed with surgery. It is also a suitable choice for patients who are unable to undergo surgery. It can be combined with other treatments like surgery or chemotherapy to help patients with melanoma have better results.
Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects and risks of radiation therapy before beginning your treatment. Radiation therapy for melanoma can cause skin irritation, tiredness, and changes in skin colour or texture. Your Skin Cancer doctor will watch you carefully during treatment to manage side effects and ensure the best results.
Immunotherapy
In advanced melanoma, cancer spreads to lymph nodes or organs. Immunotherapy is a very effective treatment option. This is especially true when there is a high risk of metastasis.
Immunotherapy works by harnessing the body's own immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. This method has been very successful in helping patients with advanced melanoma. Several individuals have even experienced long-term recovery from the illness.
Surgery
Most melanomas can be treated easily if found early. Melanomas are easier to treat when detected early. Treatment typically begins with a surgery known as wide local excision. During this procedure, the cancerous cells and some surrounding healthy skin are removed.
If found late, melanoma cells can move through lymph nodes, blood, or nerves and spread to other organs.
For thicker melanomas deeper than 1 mm, a sentinel node biopsy and CT/PET scan may be performed. These tests help determine if the cancer has spread to other lymph nodes or organs.
After cancer removal, you may need skin grafts or flap repairs. These procedures help cover the wound and promote healing. The need for them depends on the size and location of the area that was removed.
Does leaving Malignant Melanoma untreated lead to any health complications?
If doctors don't find and treat Melanoma early, the cancer can grow and spread to nearby tissues. This can lead to the cancer spreading through the nerves or lymphatic system to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis.
When cancer spreads, it is harder to treat and lowers the chances of survival. It's crucial to get medical help and treatment quickly for Melanoma to stop it from spreading and causing more harm.
When should I have a melanoma screening check?
Regular skin cancer checks are vital for early detection of all skin cancers, in particular melanoma. Assess your skin cancer risk here.
If you are at risk, Melanoma institute of Australia strongly advises you to see a skin cancer specialist. They can perform a full body skin check or mole mapping test. This will help detect melanoma and other skin cancers.
They undergo training to identify any suspicious moles or lesions that may indicate skin cancer. These tests can help detect skin cancer at an early stage when it is most treatable.
Finding early stage melanomas is hard, and taking proactive steps to protect yourself is important.
Early detection is the key in managing all types of skin cancers, especially melanoma.
Where can I learn more about melanoma treatment?
Visit our website to book an appointment or request a consultation with one of our skin cancer specialists.
You can also visit Melanoma patients Australia website.
Melanoma Patients Australia (MPA) is a national body dedicated to helping those affected by melanoma, providing resources on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment options, along with education on sun safety, skin checks, and symptom recognition. MPA also offers support services and connects patients.
Melanoma is the third most common form of skin cancer (behind basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas). It is also the most dangerous form, growing rapidly from a typically dark lump, mole or mark under the skin.
Melanomas originate from alterations in cells known as melanocytes that generate skin pigments known as melanin. It can develop anywhere on the body and typically looks like a mole without any additional symptoms.
It is the most common and dangerous cancer for young Australians aged 15 to 39. It causes five deaths each day in Australia. Doctors diagnose over 13,000 Australians with melanoma annually in Australia.
What Does Melanoma Look Like?
Melanoma typically looks like a mole without any additional symptoms. It can appear as a dark lump, mole, or mark under the skin. If you notice any unusual or changing moles on your skin, it's essential to consult a skin cancer specialist for further evaluation.
Melanoma Pictures and different types
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can present in various forms. The different types of melanoma include:
1. Nodular Melanoma: This type grows vertically into the skin and is often recognized by its rapid growth.
2. Amelanotic Melanoma: This is a type of melanoma that lacks pigment, making it challenging to diagnose visually.
3. Acral Lentiginous Melanoma: This type commonly occurs on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or under the nails.
4. Superficial Spreading Melanoma: This is the most common type of melanoma, growing horizontally on the skin's top layer.
Different types of melanoma need different treatments. It's important to see a skin cancer specialist for the right diagnosis and care.
What are the risk factors for getting a melanoma?
The risk of getting melanoma goes up with UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds. This is especially true if you have had sunburns, particularly during childhood.
The risk of melanoma is heightened for individuals who have:
- exposure to UV radiation without protection
- a past of childhood sunburn and tanning
- a history of brief, intense exposure to UV radiation
- a large number of moles– over 50 on the body and more than 10 above the elbows on the arms
- an increased count of abnormal moles (dysplastic naevi)
- weakened immune systems
- a family history of melanoma in a close relative
- light skin, a propensity to burn instead of tan, freckles, light eye color (blue or green), light or red hair color
- a history of melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer
Melanoma Treatment In Melbourne
How is melanoma treated In Australia?
Doctors in Australia typically treat melanoma through various methods such as surgery, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Surgery is the main treatment for early melanoma. Advanced cases may need more treatments like lymph node surgery or immunotherapy.
Doctors also use radiotherapy for early-stage melanomas. It's essential to consult a skin cancer specialist for the most appropriate treatment plan tailored to individual cases.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy is a good option for treating melanomas that cannot be removed with surgery. It is also a suitable choice for patients who are unable to undergo surgery. It can be combined with other treatments like surgery or chemotherapy to help patients with melanoma have better results.
Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects and risks of radiation therapy before beginning your treatment. Radiation therapy for melanoma can cause skin irritation, tiredness, and changes in skin colour or texture. Your Skin Cancer doctor will watch you carefully during treatment to manage side effects and ensure the best results.
Immunotherapy
In advanced melanoma, cancer spreads to lymph nodes or organs. Immunotherapy is a very effective treatment option. This is especially true when there is a high risk of metastasis.
Immunotherapy works by harnessing the body's own immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. This method has been very successful in helping patients with advanced melanoma. Several individuals have even experienced long-term recovery from the illness.
Surgery
Most melanomas can be treated easily if found early. Melanomas are easier to treat when detected early. Treatment typically begins with a surgery known as wide local excision. During this procedure, the cancerous cells and some surrounding healthy skin are removed.
If found late, melanoma cells can move through lymph nodes, blood, or nerves and spread to other organs.
For thicker melanomas deeper than 1 mm, a sentinel node biopsy and CT/PET scan may be performed. These tests help determine if the cancer has spread to other lymph nodes or organs.
After cancer removal, you may need skin grafts or flap repairs. These procedures help cover the wound and promote healing. The need for them depends on the size and location of the area that was removed.
Does leaving Malignant Melanoma untreated lead to any health complications?
If doctors don't find and treat Melanoma early, the cancer can grow and spread to nearby tissues. This can lead to the cancer spreading through the nerves or lymphatic system to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis.
When cancer spreads, it is harder to treat and lowers the chances of survival. It's crucial to get medical help and treatment quickly for Melanoma to stop it from spreading and causing more harm.
When should I have a melanoma screening check?
Regular skin cancer checks are vital for early detection of all skin cancers, in particular melanoma. Assess your skin cancer risk here.
If you are at risk, Melanoma institute of Australia strongly advises you to see a skin cancer specialist. They can perform a full body skin check or mole mapping test. This will help detect melanoma and other skin cancers.
They undergo training to identify any suspicious moles or lesions that may indicate skin cancer. These tests can help detect skin cancer at an early stage when it is most treatable.
Finding early stage melanomas is hard, and taking proactive steps to protect yourself is important.
Early detection is the key in managing all types of skin cancers, especially melanoma.
Where can I learn more about melanoma treatment?
Visit our website to book an appointment or request a consultation with one of our skin cancer specialists.
You can also visit Melanoma patients Australia website.
Melanoma Patients Australia (MPA) is a national body dedicated to helping those affected by melanoma, providing resources on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment options, along with education on sun safety, skin checks, and symptom recognition. MPA also offers support services and connects patients.
