There is a lot of evidence that your mind can have a very positive effect on the success of the treatment of melanoma. In fact, the science of Psychoneuroimmunology is built around the idea that your thinking, emotions, and mental state can have a profound affect and influence on your body and your immune system. Many melanoma patients have used mind-body techniques to help them significantly in their treatment and its successful outcome.
Below is a list of a number of strategies to use your mind to help in your battle against melanoma. Not every strategy is going to work for everyone, so don’t feel bad if you try a strategy and it doesn’t work for you. These strategies are listed here because they have worked for others, and what is important is to try and find the strategies that work for you. How will you know what could work for you? Read through them and try the ones that sound or feel like they fit with who you are.
There is a lot of evidence that your mind can have a very positive effect on the success of the treatment of melanoma. In fact, the science of Psychoneuroimmunology is built around the idea that your thinking, emotions, and mental state can have a profound affect and influence on your body and your immune system. Many melanoma patients have used mind-body techniques to help them significantly in their treatment and its successful outcome.
Below is a list of a number of strategies to use your mind to help in your battle against melanoma. Not every strategy is going to work for everyone, so don’t feel bad if you try a strategy and it doesn’t work for you. These strategies are listed here because they have worked for others, and what is important is to try and find the strategies that work for you. How will you know what could work for you? Read through them and try the ones that sound or feel like they fit with who you are.
There is a lot of evidence that your mind can have a very positive effect on the success of the treatment of melanoma. In fact, the science of Psychoneuroimmunology is built around the idea that your thinking, emotions, and mental state can have a profound affect and influence on your body and your immune system. Many melanoma patients have used mind-body techniques to help them significantly in their treatment and its successful outcome.
Below is a list of a number of strategies to use your mind to help in your battle against melanoma. Not every strategy is going to work for everyone, so don’t feel bad if you try a strategy and it doesn’t work for you. These strategies are listed here because they have worked for others, and what is important is to try and find the strategies that work for you. How will you know what could work for you? Read through them and try the ones that sound or feel like they fit with who you are.
There is a lot of evidence that your mind can have a very positive effect on the success of the treatment of melanoma. In fact, the science of Psychoneuroimmunology is built around the idea that your thinking, emotions, and mental state can have a profound affect and influence on your body and your immune system. Many melanoma patients have used mind-body techniques to help them significantly in their treatment and its successful outcome.
Below is a list of a number of strategies to use your mind to help in your battle against melanoma. Not every strategy is going to work for everyone, so don’t feel bad if you try a strategy and it doesn’t work for you. These strategies are listed here because they have worked for others, and what is important is to try and find the strategies that work for you. How will you know what could work for you? Read through them and try the ones that sound or feel like they fit with who you are.
There is a lot of evidence that your mind can have a very positive effect on the success of the treatment of melanoma. In fact, the science of Psychoneuroimmunology is built around the idea that your thinking, emotions, and mental state can have a profound affect and influence on your body and your immune system. Many melanoma patients have used mind-body techniques to help them significantly in their treatment and its successful outcome.
Below is a list of a number of strategies to use your mind to help in your battle against melanoma. Not every strategy is going to work for everyone, so don’t feel bad if you try a strategy and it doesn’t work for you. These strategies are listed here because they have worked for others, and what is important is to try and find the strategies that work for you. How will you know what could work for you? Read through them and try the ones that sound or feel like they fit with who you are.
There is a lot of evidence that your mind can have a very positive effect on the success of the treatment of melanoma. In fact, the science of Psychoneuroimmunology is built around the idea that your thinking, emotions, and mental state can have a profound affect and influence on your body and your immune system. Many melanoma patients have used mind-body techniques to help them significantly in their treatment and its successful outcome.
Below is a list of a number of strategies to use your mind to help in your battle against melanoma. Not every strategy is going to work for everyone, so don’t feel bad if you try a strategy and it doesn’t work for you. These strategies are listed here because they have worked for others, and what is important is to try and find the strategies that work for you. How will you know what could work for you? Read through them and try the ones that sound or feel like they fit with who you are.
There is a lot of evidence that your mind can have a very positive effect on the success of the treatment of melanoma. In fact, the science of Psychoneuroimmunology is built around the idea that your thinking, emotions, and mental state can have a profound affect and influence on your body and your immune system. Many melanoma patients have used mind-body techniques to help them significantly in their treatment and its successful outcome.
Below is a list of a number of strategies to use your mind to help in your battle against melanoma. Not every strategy is going to work for everyone, so don’t feel bad if you try a strategy and it doesn’t work for you. These strategies are listed here because they have worked for others, and what is important is to try and find the strategies that work for you. How will you know what could work for you? Read through them and try the ones that sound or feel like they fit with who you are.
There is a lot of evidence that your mind can have a very positive effect on the success of the treatment of melanoma. In fact, the science of Psychoneuroimmunology is built around the idea that your thinking, emotions, and mental state can have a profound affect and influence on your body and your immune system. Many melanoma patients have used mind-body techniques to help them significantly in their treatment and its successful outcome.
Below is a list of a number of strategies to use your mind to help in your battle against melanoma. Not every strategy is going to work for everyone, so don’t feel bad if you try a strategy and it doesn’t work for you. These strategies are listed here because they have worked for others, and what is important is to try and find the strategies that work for you. How will you know what could work for you? Read through them and try the ones that sound or feel like they fit with who you are.
There is a lot of evidence that your mind can have a very positive effect on the success of the treatment of melanoma. In fact, the science of Psychoneuroimmunology is built around the idea that your thinking, emotions, and mental state can have a profound affect and influence on your body and your immune system. Many melanoma patients have used mind-body techniques to help them significantly in their treatment and its successful outcome.
Below is a list of a number of strategies to use your mind to help in your battle against melanoma. Not every strategy is going to work for everyone, so don’t feel bad if you try a strategy and it doesn’t work for you. These strategies are listed here because they have worked for others, and what is important is to try and find the strategies that work for you. How will you know what could work for you? Read through them and try the ones that sound or feel like they fit with who you are.
After melanoma is confirmed by a melanoma biopsy, and the stage of melanoma is determined, there are a broad number of drug treatments that are used to reduce or eliminate melanoma tumors, and to combat the spread of melanoma. Some treatments are used by themselves, while other protocols incorporate multiple treatments together, designed to improve the results.
Some melanoma treatments are used when tumors are present and measurable. These treatments tend to focus on the goal of reducing or eliminating tumors that are already present. Other treatments are used in what is called the "adjuvant" setting, which means that there is no evidence of melanoma tumors in the body. These adjuvant treatments focus on the goal of preventing melanoma tumors from forming in the future.
Melanoma treatment depends on the stage of growth it has reached. In most cases, your doctor will recommend surgery to remove the melanoma tumors. For more advanced stages, your doctor will also likely recommend additional treatment which could include immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
The typical protocols for melanoma treatment are based on Stages is outlined here:
Stage Protocol for Melanoma Treatment
After treatment, your doctor will want to see you every 3 to 6 months for the next 5 years. During these visits, your doctor will check to see whether the cancer has returned and if you have any new melanomas. If the melanoma has metastasized, you will also most likely need to get new scans, either a CT scan or an MRI or a PET scan, depending on the stage the melanoma reached.
Additionally, experimental treatments are treatments being tested in a clinical trial. In order for you to get into a clinical trial to receive the experimental Read moreu ndi treatment, you need to find it, qualify for it, and get accepted into it. Once accepted, many trials will pay for thements][1] **Melanoma the melanoma treatment, and some will even pay for travel expenses.
After melanoma is confirmed by a melanoma biopsy, and the stage of melanoma is determined, there are a broad number of drug treatments that are used to reduce or eliminate melanoma tumors, and to combat the spread of melanoma. Some treatments are used by themselves, while other protocols incorporate multiple treatments together, designed to improve the results.
Some melanoma treatments are used when tumors are present and measurable. These treatments tend to focus on the goal of reducing or eliminating tumors that are already present. Other treatments are used in what is called the "adjuvant" setting, which means that there is no evidence of melanoma tumors in the body. These adjuvant treatments focus on the goal of preventing melanoma tumors from forming in the future.
Melanoma treatment depends on the stage of growth it has reached. In most cases, your doctor will recommend surgery to remove the melanoma tumors. For more advanced stages, your doctor will also likely recommend additional treatment which could include immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
The typical protocols for melanoma treatment are based on Stages is outlined here:
Stage Protocol for Melanoma Treatment
After treatment, your doctor will want to see you every 3 to 6 months for the next 5 years. During these visits, your doctor will check to see whether the cancer has returned and if you have any new melanomas. If the melanoma has metastasized, you will also most likely need to get new scans, either a CT scan or an MRI or a PET scan, depending on the stage the melanoma reached.
Additionally, experimental treatments are treatments being tested in a clinical trial. In order for you to get into a clinical trial to receive the experimental treatment, you need to find it, qualify for it, and get accepted into it. Once accepted, many trials will pay for the melanoma treatment, and some will even pay for travel expenses.
After melanoma is confirmed by a melanoma biopsy, and the stage of melanoma is determined, there are a broad number of drug treatments that are used to reduce or eliminate melanoma tumors, and to combat the spread of melanoma. Some treatments are used by themselves, while other protocols incorporate multiple treatments together, designed to improve the results.
Some melanoma treatments are used when tumors are present and measurable. These treatments tend to focus on the goal of reducing or eliminating tumors that are already present. Other treatments are used in what is called the "adjuvant" setting, which means that there is no evidence of melanoma tumors in the body. These adjuvant treatments focus on the goal of preventing melanoma tumors from forming in the future.
Melanoma treatment depends on the stage of growth it has reached. In most cases, your doctor will recommend surgery to remove the melanoma tumors. For more advanced stages, your doctor will also likely recommend additional treatment which could include immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
The typical protocols for melanoma treatment are based on Stages is outlined here:
Stage Protocol for Melanoma Treatment
After treatment, your doctor will want to see you every 3 to 6 months for the next 5 years. During these visits, your doctor will check to see whether the cancer has returned and if you have any new melanomas. If the melanoma has metastasized, you will also most likely need to get new scans, either a CT scan or an MRI or a PET scan, depending on the stage the melanoma reached.
Additionally, experimental treatments are treatments being tested in a clinical trial. In order for you to get into a clinical trial to receive the experimental treatment, you need to find it, qualify for it, and get accepted into it. Once accepted, many trials will pay for the melanoma treatment, and some will even pay for travel expenses.
Melanoma is a less common form of skin cancer, but generally considered to be the most serious and dangerous. Melanoma generally begins in the skin, but if left untreated, can spread into your lymphatic system, and eventually to other organs such as the lungs, liver, and brain. Luckily, melanoma can be cured if it’s found and treated, and the earlier it is found, the more successful treatment can be. This is why doctors and dermatologists often recommend regular skin checks if you have abnormal looking moles, or a historyRead a longer overview of of melanoma history of Melanoma or skin cancer in your family.
Read more about melanoma and its history
What causes melanoma?
The most common cause of Melanoma is generally considered to be too much sun exposure. There is some debate over whether the problem is the total amount of sun exposure (ex. you always have a sun tan), or if it is the total amount of acute exposure (ex. you often get sun burns). Regardless, the overexposure to the sun causes normal skin cells to mutate and become abnormal (see also Cell Mutations). Normal cells in your body have a life cycle (just like you), and at the end of their life, go through “dying” process (see Cell Apoptosis). However cancer cells that have mutated don’t go through the normal life cycle. Instead, they grow and multiple and do not die off. As they grow, they begin to destroy the other normal cells around them. There are a number of other theories and ideas about what causes Melanoma.
Read more about the causes of melanoma.
What are the symptoms?
The first sign of Melanoma is often a change in a mole, birthmark, or other skin growth. Sometimes you may not have observed this change, especially if you have not been paying careful attention to your skin. In that case, signs of a melanoma or risk of melanoma could be the presence of abnormal or atypical moles. Abnormal moles are those which are lumpy, raised, and rounded.
Read more about melanoma symptoms.
How is it diagnosed?
If your doctors observes a growth on your skin they suspect could be melanoma, they will remove a sample of tissue from that area (this is called a melanoma biopsy), and send that sample to be checked. A pathologist will examine the tissue sample under a microscope to check to see if it is cancer. Most of the time the report produced (called a pathology report) is highly accurate. However, sometimes your doctor will request a second pathologist to look at the tissue sample if there is any doubt.
If the pathologist determines that there is cancer, your doctor may order a number of other tests. Melanomas which are small and shallow are often easily removed with a simple surgical process that in most cases will be a complete cure. However, if the melanoma is large, and more importantly, deep, it is more likely to have begun to spread, and your doctor may wish to take a number of diagnostic measures. First, they may decide to check your lymph nodes for melanoma. They may also order one of a number of different scans (PET, CT, MRI, PET/CT) which can help them determine if, how and where the melanoma may have spread.
Read more about how melanoma is diagnosed.
What are the Stages and their prognosis?
The prognosis for melanoma varies significantly depending on the Stage of the cancer. The Stages range from Ia to IVd. If it is caught early, it is highly curable with surgery alone. If it is caught late, once it has already begun to metasta, the prognosis is not as favorable.
It’s important to remember, however, that statistics are only statistics. No matter what your stage or statistical prognosis, always remember that you are a strong and powerful person and you can overcome any challenge that you face, including this one. We provide comprehensive information on melanoma treatment.
Read more about the prognosis of the Stages of melanoma.
How do you prevent Melanoma?
The most commonly accepted cause of melanoma is over-exposure to UV rays, typically from too much sun. Hence, the easiest way to prevent melanoma is to avoid too much sun, and especially to take preventative measures (ie. wear sunscreen) to avoid sun burns.
Because Melanoma has been shown to have a genetic predisposition, it can run in families. Those people with a history of melanoma or other skin cancers, should be especially cautious to avoid over exposure to UV rays.
Melanoma is a less common form of skin cancer, but generally considered to be the most serious and dangerous. Melanoma generally begins in the skin, but if left untreated, can spread into your lymphatic system, and eventually to other organs such as the lungs, liver, and brain. Luckily, melanoma can be cured if it’s found and treated, and the earlier it is found, the more successful treatment can be. This is why doctors and dermatologists often recommend regular skin checks if you have abnormal looking moles, or a history of Melanoma or skin cancer in your family.
Read more about melanomaand melanoma and its history
What causes melanoma?
The most common cause of Melanoma is generally considered to be too much sun exposure. There is some debate over whether the problem is the total amount of sun exposure (ex. you always have a sun tan), or if it is the total amount of acute exposure (ex. you often get sun burns). Regardless, the overexposure to the sun causes normal skin cells to mutate and become abnormal (see also Cell Mutations). Normal cells in your body have a life cycle (just like you), and at the end of their life, go through “dying” process (see Cell Apoptosis). However cancer cells that have mutated don’t go through the normal life cycle. Instead, they grow and multiple and do not die off. As they grow, they begin to destroy the other normal cells around them. There are a number of other theories and ideas about what causes Melanoma.
Read more about the causes of melanoma.
What are the symptoms?
The first sign of Melanoma is often a change in a mole, birthmark, or other skin growth. Sometimes you may not have observed this change, especially if you have not been paying careful attention to your skin. In that case, signs of a melanoma or risk of melanoma could be the presence of abnormal or atypical moles. Abnormal moles are those which are lumpy, raised, and rounded.
Read more about melanoma symptoms.
How is it diagnosed?
If your doctors observes a growth on your skin they suspect could be melanoma, they will remove a sample of tissue from that area (this is called a melanoma biopsy), and send that sample to be checked. A pathologist will examine the tissue sample under a microscope to check to see if it is cancer. Most of the time the report produced (called a pathology report) is highly accurate. However, sometimes your doctor will request a second pathologist to look at the tissue sample if there is any doubt.
If the pathologist determines that there is cancer, your doctor may order a number of other tests. Melanomas which are small and shallow are often easily removed with a simple surgical process that in most cases will be a complete cure. However, if the melanoma is large, and more importantly, deep, it is more likely to have begun to spread, and your doctor may wish to take a number of diagnostic measures. First, they may decide to check your lymph nodes for melanoma. They may also order one of a number of different scans (PET, CT, MRI, PET/CT) which can help them determine if, how and where the melanoma may have spread.
Read more about how melanoma is diagnosed.
What are the Stages and their prognosis?
The prognosis for melanoma varies significantly depending on the Stage of the cancer. The Stages range from Ia to IVd. If it is caught early, it is highly curable with surgery alone. If it is caught late, once it has already begun to metasta, the prognosis is not as favorable.
It’s important to remember, however, that statistics are only statistics. No matter what your stage or statistical prognosis, always remember that you are a strong and powerful person and you can overcome any challenge that you face, including this one. We provide comprehensive information on melanoma treatment.
Read more about the prognosis of the Stages of melanoma.
How do you prevent Melanoma?
The most commonly accepted cause of melanoma is over-exposure to UV rays, typically from too much sun. Hence, the easiest way to prevent melanoma is to avoid too much sun, and especially to take preventative measures (ie. wear sunscreen) to avoid sun burns.
Because Melanoma has been shown to have a genetic predisposition, it can run in families. Those people with a history of melanoma or other skin cancers, should be especially cautious to avoid over exposure to UV rays.
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Melanoma ]2]is a less common form of [skin cancer, but generally considered to be the most serious and dangerous. Melanoma generally begins in the skin, but if left untreated, can spread into your lymphatic system, and eventually to other organs such as the lungs, liver, and brain. Luckily, melanoma can be cured if it’s found and treated, and the earlier it is found, the more successful treatment can be. This is why doctors and dermatologists often recommend regular skin checks if you have abnormal looking moles, or a history of Melanoma or skin cancer in your family.
Read more about melanoma and its history
What causes melanoma?
The most common cause of Melanoma is generally considered to be too much sun exposure. There is some debate over whether the problem is the total amount of sun exposure (ex. you always have a sun tan), or if it is the total amount of acute exposure (ex. you often get sun burns). Regardless, the overexposure to the sun causes normal skin cells to mutate and become abnormal (see also Cell Mutations). Normal cells in your body have a life cycle (just like you), and at the end of their life, go through “dying” process (see Cell Apoptosis). However cancer cells that have mutated don’t go through the normal life cycle. Instead, they grow and multiple and do not die off. As they grow, they begin to destroy the other normal cells around them. There are a number of other theories and ideas about what causes Melanoma.
Read more about the causes of melanoma.
What are the symptoms?
The first sign of Melanoma is often a change in a mole, birthmark, or other skin growth. Sometimes you may not have observed this change, especially if you have not been paying careful attention to your skin. In that case, signs of a melanoma or risk of melanoma could be the presence of abnormal or atypical moles. Abnormal moles are those which are lumpy, raised, and rounded.
Read more about melanoma symptoms.
How is it diagnosed?
If your doctors observes a growth on your skin they suspect could be melanoma, they will remove a sample of tissue from that area (this is called a melanoma biopsy), and send that sample to be checked. A pathologist will examine the tissue sample under a microscope to check to see if it is cancer. Most of the time the report produced (called a pathology report) is highly accurate. However, sometimes your doctor will request a second pathologist to look at the tissue sample if there is any doubt.
If the pathologist determines that there is cancer, your doctor may order a number of other tests. Melanomas which are small and shallow are often easily removed with a simple surgical process that in most cases will be a complete cure. However, if the melanoma is large, and more importantly, deep, it is more likely to have begun to spread, and your doctor may wish to take a number of diagnostic measures. First, they may decide to check your lymph nodes for melanoma. They may also order one of a number of different scans (PET, CT, MRI, PET/CT) which can help them determine if, how and where the melanoma may have spread.
Read more about how melanoma is diagnosed.
What are the Stages and their prognosis?
The prognosis for melanoma varies significantly depending on the Stage of the cancer. The Stages range from Ia to IVd. If it is caught early, it is highly curable with surgery alone. If it is caught late, once it has already begun to metasta, the prognosis is not as favorable.
It’s important to remember, however, that statistics are only statistics. No matter what your stage or statistical prognosis, always remember that you are a strong and powerful person and you can overcome any challenge that you face, including this one. We provide comprehensive information on melanoma treatment.
Read more about the prognosis of the Stages of melanoma.
How do you prevent Melanoma?
The most commonly accepted cause of melanoma is over-exposure to UV rays, typically from too much sun. Hence, the easiest way to prevent melanoma is to avoid too much sun, and especially to take preventative measures (ie. wear sunscreen) to avoid sun burns.
Because Melanoma has been shown to have a genetic predisposition, it can run in families. Those people with a history of melanoma or other skin cancers, should be especially cautious to avoid over exposure to UV rays.
Melanoma is a less common form of skin cancer, but generally considered to be the most serious and dangerous. Melanoma generally begins in the skin, but if left untreated, can spread into your lymphatic system, and eventually to other organs such as the lungs, liver, and brain. Luckily, melanoma can be cured if it’s found and treated, and the earlier it is found, the more successful treatment can be. This is why doctors and dermatologists often recommend regular skin checks if you have abnormal looking moles, or a history of Melanoma or skin cancer in your family.
Read more about melanoma and its history
What causes melanoma?
The most common cause of Melanoma is generally considered to be too much sun exposure. There is some debate over whether the problem is the total amount of sun exposure (ex. you always have a sun tan), or if it is the total amount of acute exposure (ex. you often get sun burns). Regardless, the overexposure to the sun causes normal skin cells to mutate and become abnormal (see also Cell Mutations). Normal cells in your body have a life cycle (just like you), and at the end of their life, go through “dying” process (see Cell Apoptosis). However cancer cells that have mutated don’t go through the normal life cycle. Instead, they grow and multiple and do not die off. As they grow, they begin to destroy the other normal cells around them. There are a number of other theories and ideas about what causes Melanoma.
Read more about the causes of melanoma.
What are the symptoms?
The first sign of Melanoma is often a change in a mole, birthmark, or other skin growth. Sometimes you may not have observed this change, especially if you have not been paying careful attention to your skin. In that case, signs of a melanoma or risk of melanoma could be the presence of abnormal or atypical moles. Abnormal moles are those which are lumpy, raised, and rounded.
Read more about melanoma symptoms.
How is it diagnosed?
If your doctors observes a growth on your skin they suspect could be melanoma, they will remove a sample of tissue from that area (this is called a melanoma biopsy), and send that sample to be checked. A pathologist will examine the tissue sample under a microscope to check to see if it is cancer. Most of the time the report produced (called a pathology report) is highly accurate. However, sometimes your doctor will request a second pathologist to look at the tissue sample if there is any doubt.
If the pathologist determines that there is cancer, your doctor may order a number of other tests. Melanomas which are small and shallow are often easily removed with a simple surgical process that in most cases will be a complete cure. However, if the melanoma is large, and more importantly, deep, it is more likely to have begun to spread, and your doctor may wish to take a number of diagnostic measures. First, they may decide to check your lymph nodes for melanoma. They may also order one of a number of different scans (PET, CT, MRI, PET/CT) which can help them determine if, how and where the melanoma may have spread.
Read more about how melanoma is diagnosed.
What are the Stages and their prognosis?
The prognosis for melanoma varies significantly depending on the Stage of the cancer. The Stages range from Ia to IVd. If it is caught early, it is highly curable with surgery alone. If it is caught late, once it has already begun to metasta, the prognosis is not as favorable.
It’s important to remember, however, that statistics are only statistics. No matter what your stage or statistical prognosis, always remember that you are a strong and powerful person and you can overcome any challenge that you face, including this one. We provide comprehensive information on melanoma treatment.
Read more about the prognosis of the Stages of melanoma.
How do you prevent Melanoma?
The most commonly accepted cause of melanoma is over-exposure to UV rays, typically from too much sun. Hence, the easiest way to prevent melanoma is to avoid too much sun, and especially to take preventative measures (ie. wear sunscreen) to avoid sun burns.
Because Melanoma has been shown to have a genetic predisposition, it can run in families. Those people with a history of melanoma or other skin cancers, should be especially cautious to avoid over exposure to UV rays.
Melanoma is a less common form of skin cancer, but generally considered to be the most serious and dangerous. Melanoma generally begins in the skin, but if left untreated, can spread into your lymphatic system, and eventually to other organs such as the lungs, liver, and brain. Luckily, melanoma can be cured if it’s found and treated, and the earlier it is found, the more successful treatment can be. This is why doctors and dermatologists often recommend regular skin checks if you have abnormal looking moles, or a history of Melanoma or skin cancer in your family.
Read more about melanoma and its history
What causes melanoma?
The most common cause of Melanoma is generally considered to be too much sun exposure. There is some debate over whether the problem is the total amount of sun exposure (ex. you always have a sun tan), or if it is the total amount of acute exposure (ex. you often get sun burns). Regardless, the overexposure to the sun causes normal skin cells to mutate and become abnormal (see also Cell Mutations). Normal cells in your body have a life cycle (just like you), and at the end of their life, go through “dying” process (see Cell Apoptosis). However cancer cells that have mutated don’t go through the normal life cycle. Instead, they grow and multiple and do not die off. As they grow, they begin to destroy the other normal cells around them. There are a number of other theories and ideas about what causes Melanoma.
Read more about the causes of melanoma.
What are the symptoms?
The first sign of Melanoma is often a change in a mole, birthmark, or other skin growth. Sometimes you may not have observed this change, especially if you have not been paying careful attention to your skin. In that case, signs of a melanoma or risk of melanoma could be the presence of abnormal or atypical moles. Abnormal moles are those which are lumpy, raised, and rounded.
Read more about melanoma symptoms.
How is it diagnosed?
If your doctors observes a growth on your skin they suspect could be melanoma, they will remove a sample of tissue from that area (this is called a melanoma biopsy), and send that sample to be checked. A pathologist will examine the tissue sample under a microscope to check to see if it is cancer. Most of the time the report produced (called a pathology report) is highly accurate. However, sometimes your doctor will request a second pathologist to look at the tissue sample if there is any doubt.
If the pathologist determines that there is cancer, your doctor may order a number of other tests. Melanomas which are small and shallow are often easily removed with a simple surgical process that in most cases will be a complete cure. However, if the melanoma is large, and more importantly, deep, it is more likely to have begun to spread, and your doctor may wish to take a number of diagnostic measures. First, they may decide to check your lymph nodes for melanoma. They may also order one of a number of different scans (PET, CT, MRI, PET/CT) which can help them determine if, how and where the melanoma may have spread.
Read more about how melanoma is diagnosed.
What are the Stages and their prognosis?
The prognosis for melanoma varies significantly depending on the Stage of the cancer. The Stages range from Ia to IVd. If it is caught early, it is highly curable with surgery alone. If it is caught late, once it has already begun to metasta, the prognosis is not as favorable.
It’s important to remember, however, that statistics are only statistics. No matter what your stage or statistical prognosis, always remember that you are a strong and powerful person and you can overcome any challenge that you face, including this one. We provide comprehensive information on melanoma treatment.
Read more about the prognosis of the Stages of melanoma.
How do you prevent Melanoma?
The most commonly accepted cause of melanoma is over-exposure to UV rays, typically from too much sun. Hence, the easiest way to prevent melanoma is to avoid too much sun, and especially to take preventative measures (ie. wear sunscreen) to avoid sun burns.
Because Melanoma has been shown to have a genetic predisposition, it can run in families. Those people with a history of melanoma or other skin cancers, should be especially cautious to avoid over exposure to UV rays.
Melanoma is a less common form of skin cancer, but generally considered to be the most serious and dangerous. Melanoma generally begins in the skin, but if left untreated, can spread into your lymphatic system, and eventually to other organs such as the lungs, liver, and brain. Luckily, melanoma can be cured if it’s found and treated, and the earlier it is found, the more successful treatment can be. This is why doctors and dermatologists often recommend regular skin checks if you have abnormal looking moles, or a history of Melanoma or skin cancer in your family.
Read more about melanoma and its history
What causes melanoma?
The most common cause of Melanoma is generally considered to be too much sun exposure. There is some debate over whether the problem is the total amount of sun exposure (ex. you always have a sun tan), or if it is the total amount of acute exposure (ex. you often get sun burns). Regardless, the overexposure to the sun causes normal skin cells to mutate and become abnormal (see also Cell Mutations). Normal cells in your body have a life cycle (just like you), and at the end of their life, go through “dying” process (see Cell Apoptosis). However cancer cells that have mutated don’t go through the normal life cycle. Instead, they grow and multiple and do not die off. As they grow, they begin to destroy the other normal cells around them. There are a number of other theories and ideas about what causes Melanoma.
Read more about the causes of melanoma.
What are the symptoms?
The first sign of Melanoma is often a change in a mole, birthmark, or other skin growth. Sometimes you may not have observed this change, especially if you have not been paying careful attention to your skin. In that case, signs of a melanoma or risk of melanoma could be the presence of abnormal or atypical moles. Abnormal moles are those which are lumpy, raised, and rounded.
Read more about melanoma symptoms.
How is it diagnosed?
If your doctors observes a growth on your skin they suspect could be melanoma, they will remove a sample of tissue from that area (this is called a melanoma biopsy), and send that sample to be checked. A pathologist will examine the tissue sample under a microscope to check to see if it is cancer. Most of the time the report produced (called a pathology report) is highly accurate. However, sometimes your doctor will request a second pathologist to look at the tissue sample if there is any doubt.
If the pathologist determines that there is cancer, your doctor may order a number of other tests. Melanomas which are small and shallow are often easily removed with a simple surgical process that in most cases will be a complete cure. However, if the melanoma is large, and more importantly, deep, it is more likely to have begun to spread, and your doctor may wish to take a number of diagnostic measures. First, they may decide to check your lymph nodes for melanoma. They may also order one of a number of different scans (PET, CT, MRI, PET/CT) which can help them determine if, how and where the melanoma may have spread.
Read more about how melanoma is diagnosed.
What are the Stages and their prognosis?
The prognosis for melanoma varies significantly depending on the Stage of the cancer. The Stages range from Ia to IVd. If it is caught early, it is highly curable with surgery alone. If it is caught late, once it has already begun to metasta, the prognosis is not as favorable.
It’s important to remember, however, that statistics are only statistics. No matter what your stage or statistical prognosis, always remember that you are a strong and powerful person and you can overcome any challenge that you face, including this one. We provide comprehensive information on melanoma treatment.
Read more about the prognosis of the Stages of melanoma.
How do you prevent Melanoma?
The most commonly accepted cause of melanoma is over-exposure to UV rays, typically from too much sun. Hence, the easiest way to prevent melanoma is to avoid too much sun, and especially to take preventative measures (ie. wear sunscreen) to avoid sun burns.
Because Melanoma has been shown to have a genetic predisposition, it can run in families. Those people with a history of melanoma or other skin cancers, should be especially cautious to avoid over exposure to UV rays.
Melanoma is a less common form of skin cancer, but generally considered to be the most serious and dangerous. Melanoma generally begins in the skin, but if left untreated, can spread into your lymphatic system, and eventually to other organs such as the lungs, liver, and brain. Luckily, melanoma can be cured if it’s found and treated, and the earlier it is found, the more successful treatment can be. This is why doctors and dermatologists often recommend regular skin checks if you have abnormal looking moles, or a history of Melanoma or skin cancer in your family.
Read more about melanoma and its history
What causes melanoma?
The most common cause of Melanoma is generally considered to be too much sun exposure. There is some debate over whether the problem is the total amount of sun exposure (ex. you always have a sun tan), or if it is the total amount of acute exposure (ex. you often get sun burns). Regardless, the overexposure to the sun causes normal skin cells to mutate and become abnormal (see also Cell Mutations). Normal cells in your body have a life cycle (just like you), and at the end of their life, go through “dying” process (see Cell Apoptosis). However cancer cells that have mutated don’t go through the normal life cycle. Instead, they grow and multiple and do not die off. As they grow, they begin to destroy the other normal cells around them. There are a number of other theories and ideas about what causes Melanoma.
Read more about the causes of melanoma.
What are the symptoms?
The first sign of Melanoma is often a change in a mole, birthmark, or other skin growth. Sometimes you may not have observed this change, especially if you have not been paying careful attention to your skin. In that case, signs of a melanoma or risk of melanoma could be the presence of abnormal or atypical moles. Abnormal moles are those which are lumpy, raised, and rounded.
Read more about melanoma symptoms.
How is it diagnosed?
If your doctors observes a growth on your skin they suspect could be melanoma, they will remove a sample of tissue from that area (this is called a melanoma biopsy), and send that sample to be checked. A pathologist will examine the tissue sample under a microscope to check to see if it is cancer. Most of the time the report produced (called a pathology report) is highly accurate. However, sometimes your doctor will request a second pathologist to look at the tissue sample if there is any doubt.
If the pathologist determines that there is cancer, your doctor may order a number of other tests. Melanomas which are small and shallow are often easily removed with a simple surgical process that in most cases will be a complete cure. However, if the melanoma is large, and more importantly, deep, it is more likely to have begun to spread, and your doctor may wish to take a number of diagnostic measures. First, they may decide to check your lymph nodes for melanoma. They may also order one of a number of different scans (PET, CT, MRI, PET/CT) which can help them determine if, how and where the melanoma may have spread.
Read more about how melanoma is diagnosed.
What are the Stages and their prognosis?
The prognosis for melanoma varies significantly depending on the Stage of the cancer. The Stages range from Ia to IVd. If it is caught early, it is highly curable with surgery alone. If it is caught late, once it has already begun to metasta, the prognosis is not as favorable.
It’s important to remember, however, that statistics are only statistics. No matter what your stage or statistical prognosis, always remember that you are a strong and powerful person and you can overcome any challenge that you face, including this one. We provide comprehensive information on melanoma treatment.
Read more about the prognosis of the Stages of melanoma.
How do you prevent Melanoma?
The most commonly accepted cause of melanoma is over-exposure to UV rays, typically from too much sun. Hence, the easiest way to prevent melanoma is to avoid too much sun, and especially to take preventative measures (ie. wear sunscreen) to avoid sun burns.
Because Melanoma has been shown to have a genetic predisposition, it can run in families. Those people with a history of melanoma or other skin cancers, should be especially cautious to avoid over exposure to UV rays.
After melanoma is confirmed by a melanoma biopsy, and the stage of melanoma is determined, there are a broad number of drug treatments that are used to reduce or eliminate melanoma tumors, and to combat the spread of melanoma. Some treatments are used by themselves, while other protocols incorporate multiple treatments together, designed to improve the results.
Some melanoma treatments are used when tumors are present and measurable. These treatments tend to focus on the goal of reducing or eliminating tumors that are already present. Other treatments are used in what is called the "adjuvant" setting, which means that there is no evidence of melanoma tumors in the body. These adjuvant treatments focus on the goal of preventing melanoma tumors from forming in the future.
Melanoma treatment depends on the stage of growth it has reached. In most cases, your doctor will recommend surgery to remove the melanoma tumors. For more advanced stages, your doctor will also likely recommend additional treatment which could include immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
The typical protocols for melanoma treatment are based on Stages is outlined here:
Stage Protocol for Melanoma Treatment
After treatment, your doctor will want to see you every 3 to 6 months for the next 5 years. During these visits, your doctor will check to see whether the cancer has returned and if you have any new melanomas. If the melanoma has metastasized, you will also most likely need to get new scans, either a CT scan or an MRI or a PET scan, depending on the stage the melanoma reached.
Additionally, experimental treatments are treatments being tested in a clinical trial. In order for you to get into a clinical trial to receive the experimental treatment, you need to find it, qualify for it, and get accepted into it. Once accepted, many trials will pay for the melanoma treatment, and some will even pay for travel expenses.
