Melanoma Cancer

Best Melanoma Cancer Treatment Hospital in Delhi

Disease name

The most serious type of skin cancer is melanoma. It spreads rapidly and can affect any organ. Melanoma is caused by melanocytes, which are skin cells. Those cells make melanin, the skin pigment. If you don't treat melanoma early, it can spread to other areas of your body.

Associated Anatomy

Skin

Types

Melanoma is classified into four categories.

Superficial spreading melanoma – A prevalent kind of melanoma that affects the trunk or limbs
Nodular melanoma – Most commonly found on the chest, neck, or head
Lentigo maligna melanoma – This occurs less frequently in older persons.
Acral lentiginous melanoma spreads on the palms, feet, and under the nails.

Causes

While anybody can get melanoma, those with the following issues are more vulnerable:

A personal experience with melanoma
Genetic and environmental factors
Melanoma in the family
Fair complexion with freckle, red hair, and blue eyes
Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation
Living in the equatorial region or at high altitudes may increase UV exposure
Exposed to sunbeds and tanning lamps
Numerous moles, particularly atypical moles

Signs or Symptoms

The most common melanoma signs and symptoms include:

A change of colour, discharge, spread of an existing mole
The appearance of a new, pigmented growth or other abnormalities on your skin

These are the other symptoms that should necessitate an appointment with a doctor:

When you notice any changes in your skin (such as a new mole), call your doctor immediately.
An untreated skin sore
Itchy, painful, or tender skin patches
An infected area or sore that begins to bleed
A shining, waxy, smooth or light patch or lump
A firm, red mass that bleeds, seems ulcerated or is crusty in appearance
A dry, rough, or scaly flat, red spot

Possible Treatment

If melanoma occurs, a doctor will recommend treatments based on the extent of the melanoma's spread, which may include the following:

Surgery is the primary method for treating different stages of melanoma.
Chemotherapy happens when a doctor uses drugs to target cancer cells.
Immunotherapy is a mode of treatment wherein a doctor provides immune-boosting medications to combat cancer.
Radiation therapy involves X-rays or other forms of radiation to kill or inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Targeted therapy uses drugs to identify specific genes or proteins associated with melanoma.

Risk Factor

The following factors can also enhance skin cancer risk:

A high freckle density or a proclivity to acquire freckles in response to sunlight exposure
A significant number of moles
Five or more unusual moles on the skin
Actinic lentigines (liver spots or ageing spots)
Brown birthmarks are known as "giant congenital melanocytic nevi".
Pale skin that tans slowly and burns easily
Light-coloured eyes
Light or red hair
Excessive sun exposure, especially if it results in a blistering sunburn and if the exposure is irregular
Older age
A personal or family history of melanoma
Previous organ transplantation

Stage

Melanoma's stage of progression is classified according to tumour thickness and other factors.

Melanoma spreads through the following stages:

Stage 0 (melanoma in situ)
Stage I
Stage II
Stage III
Stage IV

Typical Test

After surgery, several tests and treatments may be performed:

Mapping of lymph nodes and sentinel lymph node biopsy
CT scan (CAT scan)
PET scan
Gadolinium MRI
Ultrasound examination
Blood chemistry tests

Primary Prevention

Avoiding excessive UV exposure can help minimise your risk of developing skin cancer. This can be achieved by:

Preventing sunburn
Sun-protective clothing
Staying away from tanning lamps and beds
Applying broad-spectrum UV sunscreen with at least 30 SPF, preferably with a physical blocker like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
Applying sunscreen liberally 30 minutes before going out in the sun
Reapplying sunscreen every two hours and immediately after swimming or sweating to ensure adequate protection
Finding shade location between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Keeping kids in the shade, wearing protective clothing, and using SPF 50+ sunscreen
Preventing infants from being exposed to direct sunlight

Secondary Prevention

A good diet can boost your immune system. A healthy immune system helps the body fight against the disease.

Differential Diagnosis

Your doctor will use the following criteria for deciding your melanoma stage:

Measure the thickness
Check to see if lymph nodes have been affected by the melanoma
Search for cancer beyond the skin

Expected Prognosis

Survival rates indicate the percentage of persons diagnosed with the same cancer stage who survive for a specified period (typically five years) after diagnosis. Their effectiveness cannot predict your life expectancy, but they can help you assess the chances of favourable treatment. Your doctor will help you understand how these statistics apply to your case.

Factors Affecting Prognosis

Prognosis and treatment choices are dependent on:

The tumour's thickness and location within the body
The rate at which cancer cells multiply
Whether or not the tumour was bleeding or had ulcers
The amount of cancer in the lymph nodes
The number of sites where cancer has spread
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in the blood
Whether the malignancy has mutations (changes) in the BRAF gene
The patient's age and overall health condition

Pathophysiology

When you get any of the following, you need to see a doctor for a skin examination:

Cancer or abnormal moles
Skin cancer in the family
A history of unpleasant or blistering sunburns as a young person
The presence of new or several large moles
A change in the size, colour or shape of a mole
Any itch, bleeding or painful mole

Possible Complications

If melanoma is detected late, the patient may experience complications. Among them are:

Skin sore infection
Necrosis of the skin and pain in the area of the skin sore
Lymphoedema is a condition in which the patient's lymph nodes become inflamed, and fluid accumulates in the limbs.

Our BLK-Max Medical Experts

If you are facing any similar signs or symptoms please contact the BLK-Max team to schedule an appointment at : +91-11-30403040

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Melanoma Cancer

Best Melanoma Cancer Treatment Hospital in Delhi

Disease name

Associated Anatomy

Types

Causes

Signs or Symptoms

Possible Treatment

Risk Factor

Stage

Typical Test

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Differential Diagnosis

Expected Prognosis

Factors Affecting Prognosis

Pathophysiology

Possible Complications

Our BLK-Max Medical Experts

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