Melanoma Overview

Melanoma Guide

RightHealthRIGHTHEALTH

  • Summary
  • Definition
  • Symptoms
  • Causes
  • Treatment
  • Other Names
  • When to Contact a Medical Professional
  • Possible Complications
  • Outlook (Prognosis)
  • Prevention
  • Exams and Tests
  • Support Groups

Definition

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It involves the cells that produce the skin pigment melanin. Melanin is responsible for skin and hair color. Melanoma can also involve the colored part of the eye. (See also skin cancer and melanoma of the eye .)


Symptoms

The primary symptom of any skin cancer is usually a mole, sore, lump, or growth on the skin. Any change in appearance of a pigmented skin lesion over time is a warning sign. Also, watch for any bleeding from a skin growth.

The ABCD system may help you remember features that might be a symptom of melanoma:

  • A symmetry: One half of the abnormal area is different from the other half


Keep reading...

Encyclopedia: Melanoma

Wikipedia.orgWIKIPEDIA.ORG

Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes which are found predominantly in skin but also in the bowel and the eye . It is one of the rarer types of skin cancer but causes the majority of skin cancer related deaths. Malignant melanoma is a potentially serious type of skin cancer. It is due to uncontrolled growth of pigment cells, called melanocytes. Despite many years of intensive laboratory and clinical...


Keep reading...

Visual Exploration: Sunburn

BodyMaps.comBODYMAPS.COM

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Understanding Melanoma

The National Cancer InstituteTHE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

Melanoma is a form of cancer that begins in melanocytes (cells that make the pigment melanin). It may begin in a mole (skin melanoma), but can also begin in other pigmented tissues, such as in the eye or in the intestines.

Continue to causes, screening, treatment, clinical trials...

Question and Answer

Yahoo! AnswersYAHOO! ANSWERS

melanoma--?
can you get a melanoma on a place that is never exposed to the sun?...

Yes, it is not uncommon to have melanoma of the genitals. Regardless of the part of anatomy Melanoma is very serious. If you have a mole or suspicious lesion please have...

Asked by pineapple incident - 15 months ago

What exactly are the symptoms of metastatic melanoma?
What exactly are the symptoms of metastatic melanoma, and in how much pain would someone...

Metastatic melanoma is by definition, a secondary cancer. You cannot have a metastatic melanoma without having a primary melanoma. Metastatic comes from the word "Metastasis." A Metastasis is the...

Asked by paulmurphy42 - 18 months ago

Forum Search

OmgiliOMGILI

  • Melanoma: - 4 replies

    Melanoma Posted: Jun 13, 2008 6:40 AM How do I know if I have a melanoma? What do they look like? Re: Melanoma Posted: Jun 13, 2008 6:51 AM Katie2000 A melanoma is a deadly...

    Jun 13, 2008

  • Does McCain have disseminated melanoma? - 11 replies

    Quite many operations for recurring melanoma! disseminated melanoma or metastatic melanoma, merely that he sustained repeated...

    Jun 17, 2008

  • McCain and Melanoma - 13 replies

    John McCain has had four malignant melanomas removed to date. Melanoma, an often deadly form that a Melanoma patient is never totally free or safe from having the disease come back.

    Sep 06, 2008

Question & Answer

AnswerbagANSWERBAG

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

MamaherbMAMAHERB

  • Melanoma

    Watch this video about melanoma on HowStuffWorks. Miss Maryland 2006 discusses Skin Cancer Prevention Tips For Teens. See how skin cancer and melanoma work in this video from MultiVu.

    videos.howstuffworks.com


  • Catching Melanoma

    Watch this video about catching Melanoma early on HowStuffWorks. Researchers have found a new way to look at skin cancer to find out if it will turn out to be cancerous. See how early cancer...

    videos.howstuffworks.com


Skin Cancer Slide Show

www.mayoclinic.comWWW.MAYOCLINIC.COM

Melanoma pictures to help identify skin cancer

Skin cancer is a serious disease that is often curable if discovered early. This visual slide show will teach you how to spot potentially worrisome skin spots with the American Academy of Dermatology's A-B-C-D-E guide: Asymmetrical shape, irregular Border changes in Color, the Diameter, and how quickly the growth is Evolving.

Skin Cancer Slide Show

Skin Cancer Slide Show

webmd.comWEBMD.COM

Use this quick reference guide of skin abnormalities that point to the development of skin cancer.

Skin Cancer Slide Show

Radiation Therapy Slide Show

www.mayoclinic.comWWW.MAYOCLINIC.COM

Radiation therapy treatment planning

This slide show from the Mayo Clinic will guide you through the process of planning for radiation therapy. Before you begin external beam radiation treatment, your radiation therapy team carefully plans every aspect of your treatment in a process called radiation simulation. Radiation therapy treatment planning usually involves positioning your body, making marks on your skin and taking imaging scans.

Radiation therapy Slide Show


Related in the Kosmos


more categories...

  • Price: $16.95

    An all-around guide, "Saving Your Skin" includes information on how to detect melanoma in its early stages--with descriptions of what it is and what causes it--how to fight sun, the skin's worst enemy; how to...

    www.anrdoezrs.net


  • Price: $89.95

    Chinese herbal remedy for Melanoma from Hsin Kuang Herbal Store and Clinic.

    thefind.pgpartner.com


Cancer Quiz

webmd.comWEBMD.COM

Cancer will more than likely affect you or someone you love...how much do you really know about it?

Cancer Quiz