MALIGNANT MELANOMA

Nearly 60,000 new cases of malignant melanoma will be diagnosed in 2004. Melanomas are very dangerous skin cancers. Five percent (5%) of all skin cancers are melanomas. Melanoma may spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body and, if not detected and removed very early, may eventually kill.

Illustration, left to right: Benign mole, Dysplastic mole, Melanoma

The ABCDE method (see photos above) may help detect melanoma: A (most early melanomas are asymmetrical); B (borders of melanomas are uneven); C (color; varied shades of brown, tan, or black are often the first sign of melanoma); and D (diameter; early melanomas tend to grow larger than common moles, greater than 6 mm in diameter), E (elevated or enlarging, areas of melanoma may be elevated above the level of the adjacent skin and appear as small nodules, itch, ulcerate, or bleed).

The major risk factors for developing cutaneous melanoma are (in order of decreasing importance): (1) a new mole or pre-existing mole that has changed or is changing, (2) dysplastic moles with a prior personal history of melanoma and familial melanoma history, and (3) dysplastic moles.Melanoma may develop “de novo” in apparently “normal skin”. People with a history of “blistering” sunburns during childhood should be closely examined throughout life for melanomas. Routine self examination of your skin is a very important component of early diagnosis of melanoma.

NEBRASKA SKIN INSTITUTE ™
Phone: 308-532-4700
Internet website: www.nebraskin.com
Email: internetdoctors@aol.com
Byron L. Barksdale, M.D.