Dangers of Malignant Melanomas

Melanoma is one of the deadliest types of cancer, and 63,000 Americans are diagnosed with it every year. From those, 8,400 are expected to die from it. It is less common than other skin cancers but is responsible for more deaths than any other. The more you know about why it is so dangerous, the more you are sure to realize why, more than ever before, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

How to spot the symptoms of melanoma

One of the earliest signs of melanoma is a change in the appearance of the shape, color and symmetry of existing moles on your skin. If it is asymmetrical, has irregular borders, variances in color, a diameter of larger than ¼ of an inch and it evolves over time, you may have melanoma. One way to remember what to look for is with a mnemonic: Asymmetry, Borders, Color, Diameter and Evolution, or ABCDE.

Activities that increase your risk for melanoma

One of the most common activities that increases melanoma risk is exposure to UV rays without sufficient protection. Time spent in the sun without enough sunscreen, or without any at all, increases the risk each time. Tanning beds expose your skin to UV rays very closely. Risk is decreased when you wear sunscreen with a high SPF rating of 30 or more when outside in the daytime or by wearing protective clothing.

Diagnosis, treatment and survival rates

Doctors diagnose melanomas by looking for the ABCDE symptoms. After performing a biopsy and determining if it is malignant, it is possible to cure melanoma if it is detected and removed in an early stage. Stage I survival rates range from 85 to 99 percent, while if it is left untreated all the way to Stage IV, your chance of survival drops to about 9 to 15 percent.

Melanoma is a preventable and treatable skin cancer. Knowing what to look for and when to do something about it can mean the difference between life and death.