What is melanoma, why is it dangerous and how to treat it

Quick Transition Treatment of Melanoma

Melanoma is a malignant skin formation that originates from pigment cells—melanocytes—located in the epidermis (the surface layer of the skin). They determine skin color and are responsible for protecting against ultraviolet radiation.

Melanoma is a relatively rare type of cancer (1.8% of all cancers), more common in women than in men (in 2020, 6809 and 4351 cases were registered in the Russian Federation, respectively). In Russia, the incidence of melanoma is constantly growing, but in general, compared to other countries, the prevalence is low (for example, in the USA the incidence is much higher).

Melanoma has always been considered one of the most aggressive types of tumors, and just over 10 years ago, the prognosis of patients was extremely unfavorable (especially when metastases appeared). However, it was with melanoma that the active use and dissemination of a revolutionary method of treatment began - immunotherapy for melanoma, including in the treatment of other types of cancer.

Melanoma is a rare but most dangerous type of skin cancer. It develops in melanocytes, the cells responsible for the production of the natural skin pigment - melanin.

Melanoma symptoms

Melanoma can manifest itself in a variety of ways, but most often it appears from nevi (moles) acquired during life, which undergo changes and become so-called dysplastic nevi. Melanoma can develop against the background of non-pigmented formations, and even where this is not visible - on the mucous membranes or on the choroid (the choroid - it can only be detected by ophthalmoscopy), although this is relatively rare.

Here are some signs of melanoma:

• change in a pre-existing pigment formation (mole) - enlargement, pain, bleeding, ulceration, appearance of darker areas or discoloration of previously dark areas;
• the appearance of an “unusual” (not like everyone else) mole;
• the appearance of small similar formations near a suspicious mole;
• the appearance of enlarged lymph nodes in an area close to an “unusual” or changed mole (cervical, supraclavicular, axillary, inguinal);
• change in the color of the iris of the eye - the appearance and enlargement of a zone of brown or dark brown color.

There is a generally accepted ABCDE algorithm for assessing pigmented lesions, which can help identify “suspicious” lesions. It consists of the first letters of the characteristics being assessed:

• A (asymmetry, asymmetry) - the appearance of asymmetry of formation;
• B (boundary, contour) - the presence of uneven, “torn” edges and jagged edges;
• C (color, color) - uneven pigmentation with the presence of dark and bluish shades;
• D (diameter, diameter) - diameter greater than 6 mm;
• E (evolution, change) - change over time.

Classification

According to the degree, depth and area of ​​distribution on the body, skin melanoma is divided into 5 types:

• Superficially spreading (superficial) - appears on the skin surface, without penetrating into its layers inside. A slightly raised appearance appears on the skin, having an abnormal shape and blurry edges. Depending on the layer of skin in which the pigment is located, the color of the tumor may be black, brown or blue. As it grows, the melanoma becomes denser and turns into a black plaque with a shiny surface, and an area of ​​enlightenment is visible in the middle. This species is detected in many cases (70%), and is successfully eliminated without causing serious consequences for human health.
• Nodular (nodular) is a dangerous form of melanoma with a rapid course (approximately 6 to 18 months) and an unfavorable prognosis (50% of patients die quickly). In the vertical growth phase (melanoma grows deep into the skin), the node quickly becomes thinner, due to which even a mild injury provokes bleeding. Further on the node, ulcers appear, from which yellow liquid with ichor is released.
• Acral lentiginous (subungual) - appears on the palms, fingertips, affects the free space under the nails, and can also appear on the skin of the soles and genitals. A cancerous appearance is a small spot on the skin of a brown-black or reddish-brown color, under the nail - a purplish or blue-black color. In most cases, ulcers appear on the surface of melanoma, and the appearance takes on the appearance of mushroom-shaped growths. This type of tumor is diagnosed in 10% of cases.
• Lentiginous - is born against the background of a nevus (mole, birthmark) or senile dark brown pigmented appearance. Melanoma appears in areas of open skin (face, ears, neck, hands). Its formation is long (from 2 to twenty-five years), and monitoring with it is the most favorable of all other types.
• Pigmentless (achromatic) - occurs infrequently and represents the appearance of a pink or flesh color. It may be the result of metastases of various forms of melanoma.

What are the causes of melanoma?

The exact causes of melanoma are unknown, but the likelihood of its development increases with excessive exposure to natural (sun) and artificial (tanning bed) ultraviolet radiation.

As with other oncological diseases, melanoma arises from its own cells (in this case, melanocytes), which, under the influence of various mutations, acquire the ability to grow uncontrollably aggressively and “avoid the immune response.” One of the most powerful risk factors is solar radiation, namely ultraviolet radiation, under the influence of which proliferation (reproduction) of melanocytes occurs. Episodes of sunburn (especially severe ones) during childhood are another important trigger.

Risk factors:

• light skin (skin phototype 1);
• blond and red hair;
• eyes blue, green and light gray;
• sunburn, especially severe;
• a large number of moles (more than 50);
• dysplastic nevi;
• family history of the disease - cases of melanoma in the family;
• history of melanoma;
• genetic predisposition (a rather rare genetic syndrome - FAMMM, which is characterized by multiple dysplastic nevi);
• visiting solariums (it is believed that solariums have become one of the reasons for the increase in the incidence of melanoma in the United States).

Epidemiology

Morbidity

. Melanoma is approximately 10 times less common than skin cancer. It accounts for about 1% of the total number of malignant tumors. In European countries, this tumor occurs in 2-4 people per 100,000 population during the year. The incidence of melanoma has been increasing recently.

Age and gender characteristics

. Melanoma occurs more often in women than in men. The differences are minor, but melanomas of the lower leg, dorsum of the foot and forearm are observed 3 times more often in women than in men. The incidence of melanoma increases sharply in the age group of 30-39 years, then there is a gradual, slow increase in the incidence of the tumor until old age.

Epidemiological patterns

. Melanoma has the same geographic distribution patterns as skin cancer. The incidence is higher in southern countries and regions. More often, people with fair skin get sick. In the United States, melanoma occurs 7-10 times more often in whites than in blacks. In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the incidence of the disease in the visiting population is 3-4 times higher than in the indigenous population. The likelihood of a tumor increases in direct proportion to the time spent outdoors in the sun.

How to detect melanoma at an early stage?

To date, there are no specific methods for screening a healthy population that have proven their clinical effectiveness, however, attention to yourself and regular self-examination, as a rule, help to identify new suspicious or changed old formations.

To detect early forms of skin cancer, including melanoma, periodic (once a month) skin self-examination may be recommended.

The technique for self-examination of the skin can be found here.

To identify suspicious pigmented formations, you need to contact an oncologist, dermato-oncologist or dermatologist. The Rassvet clinic has all the necessary equipment and experienced doctors who will conduct an examination and perform dermatoscopy. If there is suspicion, removal of the formation for histological examination may be recommended.

Diagnosis of melanoma

To rule out melanoma, the doctor only needs to conduct a general examination using a dermatoscope. This is a special device that allows you to examine pigment formation under magnification and additional special lighting (immersion or polarization). Essentially, dermatoscopy is something between an examination and a microscopy. It allows you to carefully examine and evaluate the structure of the pigment formation, on the basis of which you can speak in favor of a particular diagnosis.

The dermoscopic picture of melanoma is in most cases quite specific, but it can often look atypical. Among other things, sometimes it is impossible to reliably distinguish between a still dysplastic nevus and an already developed melanoma, therefore, if there are warning signs, the patient is referred for a biopsy (in the vast majority of cases this is complete removal of the formation) and a histological analysis of the sample taken is performed (pathomorphological diagnosis).

If the spread of the tumor process is suspected, an ultrasound examination of regional lymph nodes is performed. If they are enlarged, a fine-needle biopsy or core biopsy is performed. Additionally, internal organs are examined using ultrasound, CT or MRI, as well as PET-CT.

Is melanoma curable and can it be completely cured?

Melanoma (melanoblastoma) is an oncological disease of the skin. The danger of the disease is its rapid development and metastasis. For people who have received such a diagnosis, it is important to know whether it is possible to cure melanoma, or whether they will have to constantly deal with relapses of the disease.

Clinical picture

Melanoma is a dangerous cancer disease. The malignant process begins in melanocytes - the cells of the skin responsible for the production of melanin.

In terms of speed of development, this type of oncology ranks second after lung cancer. When the cells grow, they affect the lymph nodes and internal organs.

Externally, the disease is defined as a mole with fuzzy, asymmetrical edges and uneven color.

The disease goes through 5 stages:

• Stage 0 – only the outer layer of skin is affected;
• Stage 1 – the thickness of the melanoma does not exceed 1 millimeter;
• Stage 2 – malignant processes affect deep layers, the thickness of the formation is more than 1 mm;
• Stage 3 – deep germination with damage to the lymph nodes;
• Stage 4 – severe metastasis, internal organs are affected. Incurable.

Is melanoma treatable?

There are several types of the disease, which are characterized by the degree of aggressiveness and speed of spread.

1. Superficial form of melanoma. Malignant cells accumulate exclusively above the skin layer. This formation grows slowly and practically does not spread. Superficial cancer is usually preceded by benign tumors. It is treatable, which involves removing the source of the malignant process.
2. Acral melanoblastoma. The formation is located in hidden areas of the skin, which makes diagnosis and timely treatment difficult.
3. Nodular form of melanoma. Characterized by rapid growth and metastasis. A favorable prognosis requires complex treatment.
4. Degeneration of lentigo. It develops slowly and is well treated in the initial stages. Late stages are dangerous due to deep metastases, which significantly reduces the likelihood of a favorable outcome.
5. Abnormal melanoma is characterized by the absence of a pigmented lesion. It originates mainly in the mucous membranes of the body.

Regardless of the form of the disease, treatment at the initial stage (0 and 1) guarantees 99% survival. After the onset of the second stage, the chances of a favorable outcome are reduced by 40%. If we analyze the general characteristics of the disease, we can say that melanoma is a curable disease.

Treatment methods

Treatment of melanoma depends on the stage of the disease, its form and the individual characteristics of the patient. The more severe and advanced the stage, the more treatment methods are used.

To eliminate cancer formations, 4 methods are used.

Radiation therapy (radiotherapy)

The affected area of ​​the body is exposed to radioactive radiation, as a result of which the tumor cells die. This method is rarely used (in later stages), if it is necessary to eliminate metastases.

Is it possible to get rid of melanoma forever?

The chances of a complete cure are proportional to the stage of the disease, the degree of damage to the body and the location of the tumor. In most cases, relapse of the disease occurs 3 years after treatment.

If the thickness exceeded 3 millimeters or necrotic ulcers were observed on the skin, re-formation may occur after 1 year.

About 6% of melanoma survivors experience a recurrence 10 years after treatment.

If you display a survival table, you can get the following data.

If a person does not have a relapse during the first three years, the risks of getting sick again are reduced, but do not disappear.

Despite the unfavorable prognosis, it is worth understanding that these figures refer to people undergoing treatment in the later stages. Patients who consult a doctor at stage 0 or first have a high chance of completely curing melanoma.

A person who has had melanoma needs to be examined regularly. It is advisable that the patient be observed in an oncology clinic. Specialists are able to notice the slightest changes and suspect a relapse before progress begins.

The patient should conduct self-diagnosis, regularly examining his own body for the appearance of new moles.

Visits to solariums and excessive exposure to direct sunlight are contraindicated for people who have suffered from skin cancer.

How to avoid education and development

To prevent the appearance of a dangerous dermatological formation, a person should be more attentive to his body and health in general.

In most cases, the occurrence of melanoma is influenced by an excess of ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, you need to take sunbathing responsibly. Regulate your time spent under direct rays. There is also no need to overuse visits to the solarium.

Carry out regular inspections yourself. Detection of a suspicious mole larger than 6 millimeters in size, with unclear edges, asymmetrical shape and uneven color should be a signal that you need to visit a doctor.

Strengthening the immune system is an important component of the full functioning of the body. To do this, you need to eat right, avoid stress, engage in moderate physical activity, and take care of your health. Stop smoking and do not abuse alcohol.

Melanoma is a dangerous disease that leads to consequences. Timely detection of pathology allows you to get rid of the problem in the easiest way and increases the chances of a complete cure.

Source: https://ProMelanin.ru/bolezni/melanomy/mozhno-vylechit.html

Stages of melanoma

Based on the results of histological examination of the removed lesion, a diagnosis of melanoma is made. Full-thickness removal of melanoma is very important, which is achieved only by excision of the pigment formation with the capture of the underlying subcutaneous tissue, without crushing and biting, since the stage depends and is determined by the thickness of the tumor, the so-called Breslow thickness.

• Stage 1 - so-called thin melanoma, limited to the upper layers of the skin (thickness no more than 2 mm in the absence of ulceration or up to 1 mm without or with ulceration), without signs of damage to regional lymph nodes;
• Stage 2 - “thick” melanoma - any thickness, regardless of the presence or absence of ulceration, without signs of damage to regional lymph nodes;
• Stage 3 - melanoma that has spread beyond the local localization, metastasis through the lymphatic vessels to the lymph nodes, regardless of the thickness of the primary tumor;
• Stage 4 - the disease spreads throughout the body (mainly through blood vessels) and manifests itself in the form of distant metastases.

During pregnancy

While expecting a child, the fair sex's hormonal status changes, which affects the pigment system. In most cases, this appears as the appearance of primitive nevi, but melanoma does not always develop.

In the first trimester, in patients with stage 1 of the disease, with a favorable individual prognosis, pregnancy may not be interrupted. Under general anesthesia, the melanoma is excised, capturing a small area of ​​healthy skin. Acquired morphological studies will give a more informed answer about the prognosis of the disease. If the life prognosis is unfavorable, the decision to continue the pregnancy should be taken personally by the fairer sex.

In stages 2 and 3 of the disease in the first half of pregnancy, the first step is termination of pregnancy, and then suitable treatment. In the second half of pregnancy, with any degree of illness, based on the interests of the child, measures are taken to carry the fetus to term.

Treatment of melanoma

At the Rassvet Clinic we provide all modern methods of treating melanoma, including surgical treatment, modern immunotherapy and targeted therapy. If necessary, we involve radiation therapy doctors to provide palliative radiation therapy.

Treatment of melanoma is a complex process. Many patients, especially in the regions, often cannot receive modern therapy for the disease and are treated according to outdated protocols. In Rassvet there is a multidisciplinary council that decides on the type and sequence of therapy (especially in complex cases) using the most modern treatment technologies.

How and under what conditions is melanoma completely cured?

Melanoma is a malignant process that spreads to the skin. The disease spreads quite quickly and is prone to metastasis. This article examines whether melanoma can be cured and what treatment options exist.

Is melanoma treatable?

Melanoma is curable, but, like all oncological diseases, the patient has the greatest chance of recovery if the pathological process was detected at the initial stage (zero and first). In this case, there is a 99% survival rate, that is, patients recover completely.

Once melanoma reaches the second stage, the chances of survival are reduced to 40%. This is due to early metastasis. With a malignant process of the skin at the second stage, there is a high risk of metastases growing into the lymph nodes.

If the disease was diagnosed at the third stage, then only 24% of patients survive for 5 years. In the fourth or terminal stage of melanoma, the prognosis is sharply negative, which is associated with the formation of secondary foci of pathology in the brain, liver, and lungs. The survival rate is no more than 7-10%.

The more advanced the patient’s stage of the disease, the more methods the therapy includes.

Melanoma Treatment Methods

If melanoma is detected, the patient may be prescribed the following treatment methods:

• surgical. The method involves removing a malignant neoplasm, if necessary, along with surrounding tissues or a part of the body;
• combined. This method also involves surgery, but chemotherapy and radiation are given before or after the operation.

In the early stages of skin cancer, surgery is usually sufficient. Advanced cases require an integrated approach.

Surgery

Melanoma is removed using standard surgical devices or modern laser equipment. The use of this method is justified in the early stages.

Tumor tumors of small thickness are excised along with a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue.

Before surgery, it is necessary to inspect the skin, draw and test blood, and, if possible, perform a biopsy of suspicious areas of the skin, as well as lymph nodes.

Surgeries for melanoma are performed in one of the following ways:

• simple excision. The method is suitable if the tumor is small in size. The tumor and a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue are cut out and the wound is sutured;
• wide excision. In this case, the tumor is removed along with a significant amount of the skin that surrounds it. The wound surface can be significant, so in some cases it may be necessary to transplant a section of healthy skin;
• amputation. A similar method of surgical treatment is used if the melanoma is located on the finger of the upper or lower limb. In this case, complete removal of the organ is required.

If the tumor has metastasized to nearby lymph nodes, then their removal is required.

Laser removal of melanoma is only possible if its size does not exceed 0.5 cm.

Is it possible to get rid of skin cancer forever?

Melanoma is a dangerous malignant neoplasm that grows rapidly and metastasizes. That is why patients are interested in the question of whether it is possible to completely and forever get rid of this pathology.

This is possible with early detection of the tumor and timely treatment. Advanced forms cause serious disturbances in the body and the formation of secondary lesions, which makes a complete cure impossible.

Traditional methods

Traditional methods can be used for malignant skin tumors only as additional methods and only with the consent of the doctor.

Traditional medicine offers methods of treating melanoma such as:

• ointment from fungus mushroom. There is an opinion that this type of fungus promotes the production of special cells in the human body that destroy cancerous tumors. To prepare the ointment, you need to take the mushroom, dry it, and grind it into powder using a coffee grinder. Mix 20 g of the resulting raw material with 200 g of propolis oil (concentration - 10%). The latter product is also prepared independently. To do this, 10 g of propolis is ground in a blender and placed in a water bath to form a viscous mass. Next, mix the beekeeping product with 90 g of soft butter, leave in a water bath for another 15 minutes, stirring, then remove from the heat, filter through a bandage folded in several layers, and cool. The resulting ointment is applied to the area of ​​the tumor 2 times a day for half an hour;
• beet juice. It is useful to drink juice squeezed from fresh vegetables, especially during radiation therapy, after removal of melanoma. It is recommended to drink 600 ml of juice on an empty stomach. You can’t drink it immediately after spinning; it should stand in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours;
• burdock root pulp. You need to wash the rhizomes, dry them, and grate them. Eat a tablespoon of the mixture daily.

It should be noted that many plants used in recipes against melanoma are poisonous. That is why you should never start herbal medicine without first consulting your doctor.

Prevention of melanoma

To reduce the risk of developing a malignant skin tumor, you should listen to the following recommendations:

• It is necessary to protect the skin from the aggressive effects of ultraviolet rays. It is important to avoid exposure to the open sun during the period of its greatest activity - from 11 am to 16 pm. People with fair skin and freckles should be especially careful about protecting their skin, as they are at risk;
• it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle and give up bad habits;
• It is necessary to take medications only as prescribed by a doctor, and refrain from uncontrolled use of any medications;
• Contact with harmful chemicals should be avoided;
• it is necessary to constantly strengthen the immune system;
• If you have large moles that rise above the surface of the skin, you need to protect them from injury and constantly monitor their condition.

Timely diagnosis is the most important condition for curing the disease and saving the patient’s life. Since melanoma is an aggressive tumor, it is important to start treatment on time.

Source: https://dermatologiya.su/onkologiya/mozno-li-vylecit-melanomu