Melanoma Q&A
Q. What is melanoma?
A. Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing cells. Melanomas may appear on the skin suddenly without warning but also can develop on an existing mole. The overall incidence of melanoma continues to rise. In fact, melanoma rates in the United States doubled from 1982 to 2011.
Q. Is melanoma a serious disease?
A. Melanoma is highly treatable when detected early, but advanced melanoma can spread to the lymph nodes and internal organs, which can result in death. It is estimated that 9,730 people will die from melanoma in 2017.
Q. What causes melanoma?
A. Exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet light is a risk factor for all types of skin cancer, including melanoma. Research indicates that UV light from the sun and tanning beds can both cause melanoma and increase the risk of a benign mole progressing to melanoma.
People who live close to the equator where the sunlight is more intense are more likely to develop melanoma than those in other regions.
People older than 65 may experience melanoma more frequently because of UV exposure they've received over the course of their lives.
Experiencing five or more blistering sunburns between ages 15 and 20 increases one's melanoma risk by 80 percent.
Exposure to tanning beds increases the risk of melanoma, especially in women 45 or younger.
Not all melanomas are exclusively UV-related — other possible influences include genetic factors and immune system deficiencies.
Q. Who gets melanoma?
A. Melanoma can strike anyone. In fact, more than 1 million Americans are living with melanoma.10
Caucasians are more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma than other races. Even among Caucasians, however, certain individuals are at higher risk than others.
Men older than 50 have a higher risk of developing melanoma than the general population.
You have a substantially increased risk of developing melanoma if you have more than 50 moles, large moles or atypical (unusual) moles.
Your risk is increased if you have a family history of melanoma.
If you are a Caucasian with light skin, your risk is higher than a Caucasian with olive skin.
Redheads and blonds have a higher risk of developing melanoma. Blue or green eyes also increase your risk of developing melanoma.
Your chances increase significantly if you’ve already had a previous melanoma, or if you have had either basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, which are more common forms of skin cancer.
Your risk for melanoma may also be increased if you have had other previous cancers, such as breast or thyroid cancer.
In people of color, melanoma is often diagnosed at later stages, when the disease is more advanced. This may be because many people are under the mistaken impression that people of color cannot get skin cancer.
Q. What are atypical moles?
A. Most people have moles (also known as nevi). Atypical moles are unusual moles that are generally larger than normal moles and variable in color. They often have irregular borders and may occur in far greater number than regular moles. Atypical moles occur most often on the upper back, torso, lower legs, head and neck. It is important to recognize that atypical moles are not limited to any specific body area — they may occur anywhere. The presence of atypical moles is an important risk factor for melanoma developing in a mole or on apparently normal skin.
Q. What does melanoma look like?
A. Recognition of changes in the skin is the best way to detect early melanoma. They most frequently appear on the upper back, torso, lower legs, head and neck. In females 15-29 years old, the torso/trunk is the most common location for developing melanoma, which may be due to high-risk tanning behaviors. If you have a changing mole, a new mole or a mole that is different from the rest, make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist.
If you notice a mole on your skin, you should follow the ABCDE rule, which outlines the warning signs of melanoma:
Asymmetry: One half does not match the other half.
Border irregularity: The edges are ragged, notched or blurred.
Color: The pigmentation is not uniform. Different shades of tan, brown or black are often present. Dashes of red, white, and blue can add to the mottled appearance.
Diameter: While melanomas are usually greater than 6mm in diameter when diagnosed, they can be smaller.
Evolving: A mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color.
The American Academy of Dermatology urges everyone to examine their skin regularly. This means looking over your entire body, including your back, your scalp, your palms, your soles and between your toes.
If you notice a mole different from others, or one that changes, itches or bleeds, even if it is smaller than 6mm, you should make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist as soon as possible.
Q. Can melanoma be cured?
A. When detected in its earliest stages, melanoma is highly treatable. The average five-year survival rate for individuals whose melanoma is detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is 98 percent. Five-year survival rates for regional (lymph nodes) and distant (other organs/lymph nodes) stage melanomas are 62 percent and 18 percent, respectively.
Early detection is essential. Dermatologists recommend a regular self-examination of the skin to detect changes in its appearance. Changing, suspicious or unusual moles or blemishes should be examined as soon as possible. A dermatologist can make individual recommendations as to how often a person needs a skin exam from a doctor based on individual risk factors, including skin type, history of sun exposure and family history. Individuals with a history of melanoma should have a full-body exam at least annually and perform monthly self-exams for new and changing moles.
Q. Can melanoma be prevented?
A. Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers, including melanoma. Here’s how to prevent skin cancer:
Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.
Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible.
Generously apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of at least 30 to all exposed skin. “Broad-spectrum” sunscreen provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Reapply approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.
Use extra caution near water, snow and sand, as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.
Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun, you may wish to use a sunless self-tanning product, but you should continue to use sunscreen with it.