Question: What is melanoma and is it life threatening?
Answer: Melanoma is a type of skin cancer and is considered to be most dangerous form of the disease. Although less commonly diagnosed than other types of skin cancer, melanoma account for over 75% of skin cancer deaths.
Melanoma develops in cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that are responsible for creating skin pigmentation, or melanin. Melanin is what gives our skin its natural hue.
As skin is exposed to UV rays of the sun, more melanin is produced, in hopes to prevent burning of the skin. The end result is damage to the DNA in skin cells. UV rays can also be found in tanning booths and lamps, so indoor tanning is not any safer.
People with many moles are at a higher risk for developing melanoma. Although most moles are benign, there are certain types that carry a higher risk, such as dysplastic nevi, also referred as atypical moles. They often have a melanoma-like appearance.
Caucasians are 20 times more likely to develop skin cancer than African Americans. This is due to the protection of the skin pigmentation. Those with red hair, light complexions or freckles, are also at a higher risk for developing melanoma. However, regardless of skin color, there is a risk factor when the skin is being exposed to UV rays.
There are other risk factors for developing melanoma such as family history of the disease, certain medications, and genetics. Gender also plays a role as men develop melanoma at a higher rate than females.
Melanoma can be life threatening if left untreated or diagnosed in late stages. There are medications and therapies for the disease. But, early detection is key. When detected early, there is an excellent survival rate.
