Introduction
“Skin cancers are the most prevalent form of cancer in the Unites States An estimated 11,790 people die of skin cancer each year, 8700 from malignant melanoma” (Huether, McCance, 2012, p. 1058). Since melanoma is the most prevalent form of cancer, it is important to understand what causes it, what it does, who is at a higher risk, and possible treatment routes.
Pathophysiology
The etiology of malignant melanoma is multifactorial. Both genetics and environment play important roles in causing this type of cancer. Genetic influences such as skin, hair and eye color have an impact on being at higher risk for acquiring malignant melanoma. As stated by Hodgetts (2011) Caucasians have the highest incidence for melanoma followed by Hispanics and then Asians and Pacific Islanders. Also, people with fair or red hair, blue eyes, pale skin and freckles have an increased risk of melanoma (p. 31). Moles (nevi) are “benign pigmented lesions formed from melanocytes that can transition to malignant melanoma” (Huether, McCance, 2012, p.1057-1058). The environment also plays a major role in causing this specific cancer. According to Torrens and Swan (2009) ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and occupational exposure to certain substances are major risk factors for melanoma (p. 115-116).
The skin is the first line of defense for your body. It helps to protect you in many ways against the strident environment it is exposed to. Described by Erb, Ji, Kump, Mielgo and Wenil (2008) UV-light damaged DNA is repaired and if this is not possible, the DNA damaged cells are eliminated by apoptosis This occurs under the control of the p53 suppressor gene and Fas-Ligand (FasL) monitors the elimination of the sunburn cells and helps prevent cel...
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...hanges in symmetry, borders, color, diameter and elevation of moles are the first step in detecting cancer in the skin. The sooner malignant melanoma is found, the better your chances are of survival. Early detection is critical to decreasing mortality from metastatic disease.
Works Cited
Erb, P., Ji, J., Kump, E., Mielgo, A., & Wernil M. (2008). Apoptosis and pathogenesis of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer. Pub Med, 1-1.
Hodgetts, J. (2011). Diagnosis and management of malignant melanoma. Cancer Nursing Practice, 10(7), 30-37.
Huether, S., & McCance, K. (2012). Understanding pathophysiology.
Torrens, R., & Swan, B. (2009). Promoting prevention and early recognition of malignant melanoma. Dermatology Nursing, 21(3), 115-123.
Watkins, J. (2010). Dermatology and the community nurse: actinic (solar) keratosis. British Journal Of Community Nursing, 15(1), 6.
Rockmann, H., and D. Schadendorf. "Drug Resistance in Human Melanoma: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities" Onkologie 26 (December 2003): 581–587.
Malignant melanoma is usually diagnosed by the doctor looking at a certain area in the skin that might raise concern. The doctor will then perform a skin biopsy which is known as removing all or a part of the skin area that is infected while under a local anesthesia and sending the specimen that was collected to a pathologist to be looked at. The skin biopsy report might show an atypical mole, a melanoma that might need surgery, and a benign condition that doctor wont need to treat. Some doctors might also use a technique called dermatoscopy which is when they cover a suspicious spot with oil and examine it with a brightly lit magnifying instrument.
In today’s culture, being tan coincides with what is believed to be beautiful. As a result, it is no surprise that in the United States of America, an estimated 922,000 people are currently living with some level of melanoma. Even though the news media and doctors warn people about the risks of too much sun exposure and give information as to how to prevent contracting skin cancer, people are still disregarding this important information and going into the sun for extended periods of time unprotected.
The skin is the largest organ in the body, so it isn’t surprising that skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer, affecting 4% of all cases but causing 79% of skin cancer deaths. The average age of people diagnosed with Melanoma is between 45 and 55, although 25% of cases occur in people under 40. About 10% of all people with melanoma have a family history of melanoma. You are at increased risk of developing melanoma if there is a family history of melanoma in one or more of your first-degree relatives like a parent, child, brother or sister.
Melanocytes are the cells responsible for the production of melanin, known as the tan or brown pigment produced to protect the skin from harmful sunrays. Melanocytes are located in the epidermis which is known as the first layer of skin. How melanoma skin cancer begins to form is by forming benign tumors. Which is basically a mass of non cancerous cells and have a slower growth rate than a malignant tumor. This is commonly seen as a (nevus) mole, this a form of a benign skin tumor due to melanocytes producing an abundant amount of melanin causing it to collect. Metastatic melanoma can nearly develop anywhere on the skin for males it is on the trunk, chest and upper body, were as for women it is common to see it on the legs. Metastatic can aslo spread through the epidermis and into the
Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. It’s produced in cells called melanocytes which produce pigment in your skin. Melanoma can be formed or resemble a mole. It can also be caused from too much sun exposure that you can acquire from tanning beds. If melanoma is diagnosed and treated at an early stage, it can almost always be cured. But if it’s not, the cancer can advance and spread throughout the body where it can be hard to treat and be fatal. I witnessed one of my friend’s,mother fight first hand. I was in 3rd grade, she was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. With being so young, it was hard for my friend to understand the possibilities of the dangerous cancer. She fought for two hard and exhausting years. The doctors did the best
Did you know that by far skin cancer is the most common cancers in the United States that at least 20 people die each day from this disease? Today, skin cancer is the most widespread form of cancer, accounting for about 50% of all cancer cases reported annually, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS, 2010). Like the others common cancers, skin cancer it can occurs in both younger and older people. Nowadays we all enjoy being outdoors or exposed to the sun or even being in tanning beds, not knowing how hazardous sunburns and tanning is to our health causing serious damages to the skin, called Skin Cancer, if we do not protect daily our skin properly. Skin Cancer, is a disease that can happen to anyone and anywhere in our body that can easily be prevented if detected early by knowing what are the causes leading to it, symptoms or any signs, and lastly learn ways to reduce the risk of getting skin cancer.
Melanoma skin cancer is often caused by too much exposure to the suns UV rays.
Cutaneous Melanoma skin cancer is known to be the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Melanoma begins when malignant cancer cells form in the melanocytes. These melanocytes are melanin-producing cells found in the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis. Increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds causes DNA damage that can lead to the proliferation of such cancer cells and eventually form malignant tumors. There are approximately 10,130 deaths associated with melanoma annually. With an increase in skin cancer, specifically melanoma, it is important to understand the types, signs and symptoms, possible treatments, as well as early prevention.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that was discovered in 1787 and affected humans since as early as 4th century b.c. A possible cause for this disease is high exposure to ultraviolet light. Surgery is the first choice for treatment, but there also is chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. All of these are an attempt to take out the corrupted cancer cells. To avoid develop melanoma you should avoid UV rays by not going to tanning booths wearing a shirt, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat and also try to stay in shaded areas. Cancer is a disease of the cell cycle because it is not caused by a virus or bacteria it is caused by a problem when copying DNA although an outside factor can influence it. According to dictionay.com empathy
A regular skin exam (every 6-8 weeks) will help in the melanoma dectection process. Look for irregular skin growths and have the growth examined by a health care provider if the growth promotes cause for alarm.
In 2014, approximately 76,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma is the most common and most dangerous skin cancer there is. Anyone can get melanoma when not protecting their skin. Throughout this paper there will be discussed the causes, treatments, protection and prevention, and also the effects melanoma has on the human body. Melanoma skin cancer is a cancer that Americans should be more aware of and should take greater precautions when exposing their skin to the sun.
Skin cancers have been affecting peoples’ lives for hundreds of years. The worse possible form of skin cancer is melanoma. Most people aren’t aware of the damages this type of cancer can cause and the ways it should be treated. Studying the forms and main factors that cause melanoma in young Australians is very important based on all the different aspects. For this study, it is important to look into each of the samples’ background, family history, job, region, and sun expose. I hypothesis that with the help from many researchers and scientist, the study of cases of melanoma will help people better understand ways to protect themselves and what makes them more susceptible to the disease. Providing people with a more in-depth and answers on how to avoid getting melanoma and how to prevent from getting it again is an essential message for people to understand.
The tumors can be multiply colors such as black, brown, pink, red, purple, blue and white according to (www.skincancer.org). “These tumors orginate in the pigment producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis”. Stated by (www.skincancer.org). If the tumors can be recognized early they are more likely to be treatable. Some people are not as lucky and it spreads throughout the body, and this makes it harder to treat the cancer. According to (www.skincancer.org) “120,000 new cases of melanoma in the United States are diagnosed in a year. In the year 2010 about 68,130 invasive melanomas, with about 38,870 in males and 29,260 in women.”
Skin Cancer is caused by hereditary factors, overexposure to the sun, and weak immune systems. (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com) One reason people tend to get skin cancer is when someone in your family has passed their genes down to you, known as hereditary. Normally hereditary is one of the causes in the development of melanoma. For all types of skin cancers, overexposure of the skin to UV radiation in sunlight is the most frequently blamed source of skin cancer. “Research suggests that sunburns received early in one’s childhood can lead to skin cancer later in life” (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com). For example, when someone gets sunburned, you usually don’t know till ten to twenty years after and that’s why people don’t get skin cancer till they reach their twenties.