{"id":785,"date":"2021-07-23T14:32:29","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T09:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yashodahealthcare.com\/blogs\/?p=785"},"modified":"2023-11-27T17:56:53","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T12:26:53","slug":"melanoma-skin-cancer-types-stages-signs-symptoms-and-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yashodahealthcare.com\/blogs\/melanoma-skin-cancer-types-stages-signs-symptoms-and-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Melanoma Skin Cancer, Types, Stages, Signs, Symptoms & Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 7<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

Melanoma, also known as malignant melanoma and cutaneous melanoma, is a type of skin cancer that develops anywhere on the skin. Melanoma occurs when melanocytes (cells that produce a brown pigment called melanin) responsible for the tan or brown colour of the skin, mutates and start growing uncontrollably.<\/span><\/p>\n

It may develop anywhere on the skin but generally, it starts affecting the chest and back, in case of men and legs, in case of women. Other common areas include the face and neck. It may also develop in the eyes, mouth, anal area and genitals but chances of melanoma occurring here are much less than on the skin. Likewise, people with a darker skin tone have a lesser chance of developing melanoma.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although lesser in occurrence compared to other types of skin cancers, it is more hazardous as it easily spreads to other parts of the body if not diagnosed and treated early.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yashoda Hospital<\/a> & Research Centre, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad <\/b>is committed to sharing needful information that will help you to know about the types of melanoma, its risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, stages as well as treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Melanoma Skin Cancer Types<\/b><\/h2>\n

Melanoma can be categorized into 4 types<\/span><\/p>\n

Superficial Spreading Melanoma<\/b><\/h3>\n

It is the most common type of melanoma that generally appears on the torso or limbs. Here, the cells have a slow growth rate at first which starts escalating rapidly once it spreads across the surface of the skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nodular Melanoma<\/b><\/h3>\n

It is the most aggressive type of melanoma that may be reddish or blue-black in color; it generally grows faster than other melanomas. It is the second most common type of melanoma that may appear on the areas of the torso, head or neck.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lentigo Maligna Melanoma<\/b><\/h3>\n

It generally occurs on parts of the body that have been exposed to the sun excessively over several years, such as the face. It is found more in older adults and is less common. Its representation may be in the form of a stain on the skin known as Hutchinson’s freckle or lentigo maligna. It is less hazardous than other types and generally grows slowly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Acral Lentiginous Melanoma<\/b><\/h3>\n

It may develop on the soles of feet, palms of hands or beneath the nails and is the rarest type of melanoma.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although other types of melanoma do not develop in people with darker skin usually, acral lentiginous melanoma is the most common in people with a darker skin tone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stages and Grades of Melanoma<\/h2>\n

To determine the stage of cancer, doctors may use the system of TNM. In the TNM structure, T stands for the thickness of the original tumor and whether it has ulcerated while N stands for cancer that has spread beyond the original tumor to the nearby lymph nodes and M indicates if cancer has spread to other organs such as lungs or brain or to other distant lymph nodes.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the TNM system is categorized and identified, the doctors will identify the stage in which cancer lies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Early-Stage Melanoma<\/b><\/h3>\n

Stage 0- <\/b>This stage is also known as melanoma in situ as it is present only in the outermost layer of the skin and has not yet advanced deeper.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stage I- <\/b>Cancer in this stage has advanced to the next layer of the skin from the outermost layer and is smaller than 1mm in Breslow Depth. Cancer in this stage may or may not have been ulcerated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Intermediate or High-Risk Melanoma<\/b><\/h3>\n

Stage II- <\/b>The tumors in this stage advance deeper than 1mm into the layer of the skin but they may or may not be ulcerated. The risk of spreading to other parts is high and so doctors may ask you to have a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) to examine if melanoma cells have spread to the local lymph nodes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Advanced Melanoma<\/b><\/h3>\n

Stage III- <\/b>In this stage, the tumor has spread to the local lymph nodes. Sometimes, the tumor may not have reached the local lymph nodes but may have reached the lymph vessels more than 2 cm away from the primary tumor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stage IV<\/b>– In this stage, cancer has advanced to other parts of the body such as lymph nodes, brain, lungs, liver, bone and the gastrointestinal tract. To determine the extent and degree of the advancement of melanoma, doctors may examine the site of the distant tumors and also the level of elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). (LDH is an enzyme that converts sugar into energy but it may be harmful if it is found more in blood or body fluids.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Signs & Symptoms of Melanoma Skin Cancer<\/b><\/h2>\n

Any new spot on the body or an evolving spot unusual in shape, size, or color may be the most essential warning sign of melanoma. In case, a spot looks completely different from all other spots on your body, known as ugly duckling sign, consult a dermatologist.<\/span><\/p>\n

You may also follow the ABCDE rule that helps in guiding you about the signs of melanoma. The ABCDE rule is described as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n

A for Asymmetry:<\/strong> Spots or moles on the body do not match the others.<\/span><\/p>\n

B for Border:<\/strong> The border or the edge of the spot or mole is uneven, rough, and vague.<\/span><\/p>\n

C for Color:<\/strong> The color of the spot may have different patches of red, blue, pink, or white and even may have shades of brown or black.<\/span><\/p>\n

D for Diameter:<\/strong> Spots larger than 6 millimeters across (approximately one-fourth of an inch or the size of the pencil eraser) may also be a sign of developing melanoma.<\/span><\/p>\n

E for Evolving:<\/strong> Any change in size, shape or color of the spot or mole.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consult your dermatologist if you are not sure of any mole as the difference between melanoma and an ordinary mole may be hard to distinguish.<\/span><\/p>\n

Risk Factors of Melanoma Skin Cancer<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are various factors that may play a role in increasing the risk of melanoma skin cancer. Some of them are as follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n