Stages and treatment for melanoma

Melanoma is a form of skin cancer. Although it is not as common as other forms of cancer, it is the most serious, since it is extremely susceptible to spreading. Caused mainly due to overexposure to sunlight, melanoma occurs at high frequencies among adults and has nowadays been diagnosed among a much larger population of adults under the age of 40. The condition is found lesser in people with darker shades of skin and has been discovered to occur more in women than in men.

Melanoma: Signs, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

Melanoma occurs when the pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) of the body mutate and consequently become cancerous. Initial stages of melanoma do not produce any visible signs, which is why it is beneficial to keep a thorough check on the skin. Any changes in the appearance of skin and birthmarks, spots, and moles must immediately be checked out by a medical examiner.

Patients are advised to visit their dermatologist if they find a sudden rapid appearance of new spots on their skin, or if existing moles and other marks are changing. The decision to visit the doctor can be influenced by the following acronym, ABCDE, which stands for Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, and Evolving or Elevation. If a mole has become asymmetrical or without a definite border or patchy and inconsistent in color, it is best to consult a doctor. The same goes for if the mole is increasing in diameter and texture.

Other signs and symptoms of melanomas are also visible on the skin in the form of itchiness, inflammation, oozing, bleeding, or pain from existing moles. If there are spots on the iris of the eye, symptoms of melanoma may also include blurry vision or partial loss of sight.

The Stages of Melanoma

Doctors typically refer their patients to cancer specialists if they suspect that the patient is showing signs of melanoma. Specialists diagnose the patient’s condition and also helps identify which stage of melanoma the patient is suffering from. A brief description of the diagnosis process involves the classification of the stage of the melanoma based on the TNM staging system. The T score is given according to the thickness of a tumor on a scale of 0-4. The N score is given based on how the nearby lymph nodes have been affected by a tumor. The M score is recorded in relation to how far the melanoma has spread to affect other parts of the body. This spreading is called metastasis and is rated M0 for no metastases, and M1a, M1b, and M1c for different degrees of metastasis.

Categorizing melanomas into stages greatly aids the course of melanoma treatment to be prescribed to patients, as well as the severity of the melanoma.

Early melanomas, which are described to be at stage 0, are benign and have not spread to the deeper layers of skin, existing solely at the epidermis.

Stage I melanomas are ones that have penetrated to the dermis, but still, do not pose the risk of spreading to lymph nodes or any other parts of the body.

Stage II tumors are larger and pose a higher risk of developing into ulcers and spreading to the lymph nodes. The tumors in this stage are thicker than they are in earlier stages. It is at this stage that tumors are considered as intermediate and high-risk.

Stage III melanoma is categorized by the tumor spread to the regional lymph nodes.

Stage IV melanoma is the most dangerous stage where the tumor has not only spread to regional lymph nodes but also distant lymph nodes as well as other organs of the body, such as the brain, liver, or bones.

Melanoma Treatment

Melanoma treatment is done based on which stage of melanoma the patient is currently suffering from. Surgical removal of a tumor is the melanoma treatment for stage 0 melanomas. If the melanomas show signs of growth in a stage I melanoma, surgical removal followed by the removal of nearby lymph nodes is recommended. For stage II tumors, drug melanoma treatment is an additional requirement to the option of surgery and the removal of lymph nodes to lessen the chances of cancer returning. The removal of the melanoma, as well as lymph node, is a necessity for stage III melanomas. The implementation of drug treatment and radiation therapy is also a requirement. Treating the last stage of melanoma stage IV involves the use of immunotherapy, target therapy, and chemotherapy along with surgery and lymph node removal to ease out the symptoms of the condition. Treating stage IV melanoma is the most difficult stage of melanoma treatment.

A melanoma treatment at the earlier stages is the best. Since, like most cancers, melanomas do not show prominent symptoms in their initial stages, it is essential to keep a close eye on skin health to make sure that there are no sudden discrepancies in its appearance. Melanoma treatment should be done carefully.