What is skin cancer melanoma?

Melanoma is a skin cancer that starts in the colour-producing skin cells (the melanocytes). The melanocytes are cells responsible for secreting the pigment called melanin that adds colour to your skin. Unfortunately, a mutation can arise within these cells, causing melanoma.

What causes melanoma?

Melanoma arises due to the uncontrollable division of melanocytes.

Risk factors for melanoma include the following:

• Reduced pigment (melanin) production
• More prone to sunburn
• Exposure to ultraviolet light
• Several moles or the formation of unusual-looking moles
• Compromised immune system due to HIV, lymphoma or immunosuppressant drugs

What are the related symptoms?

Symptoms of melanoma include the following:

• Change in size, form and colour of a mole
• Some rare forms of melanoma affect parts of the body such as the feet, genitals or palms.
• Moles with uneven borders
• Asymmetrical moles
• Itching, bleeding or crusting of the skin

It’s important to take note of the ABCDEs (asymmetry, border, colour, diameter & evolution), a specific code used to identify melanoma. Most types of melanomas are asymmetrical, meaning that cancerous moles are unevenly shaped. In terms of the border, a cancerous mole has jagged or notched edges. Conversely, a benign mole appears evenly shaped and smooth. If the mole has several colours, this is a strong indication of melanoma. Cancerous moles have multiple shades (black, tan and brown), while normal moles are just one shade of brown. Size also plays a role in determining whether the mole is cancerous. As a result, moles that are 6 mm or more in diameter are a warning sign of melanoma.

What are the possible treatment options for melanoma?

Treatments for melanoma include the following:

• Surgical excision involves removing early-stage melanomas. With early-stage melanoma, Dr Konyana removes the affected skin, including a healthy tissue margin and a tissue layer underneath the skin. Sometimes, a superficial melanoma can be removed through a standard skin biopsy.

For melanoma that has advanced beyond the skin, treatment may include the following:

• Surgical resection of the affected lymph nodes involves removing the lymph nodes to test how far the cancer has spread.
• Immunotherapy is a drug therapy that aims to destroy all cancer Your dermatologist and oncologist will recommend immunotherapy if the skin cancer has migrated to the lymph nodes. Drug therapy can be applied to the affected area by means of injection.