Skin Cancer On The Rise Among Younger Adults, Dermatologists Urge For Protection
A dermatologist explains why younger adults, especially men, are becoming prone to skin cancer, and shares tips to reduce the risk.
Melanoma, a tumour formed because of malignant transformation, is one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer. Melanoma is difficult to manage after metastasis as the survival rate of the patient significantly drops. Hence, prompt diagnosis and early treatment are the best management for melanoma. Melanoma affects only 22.1 out of 10,000 individuals residing in the USA. Melanoma accounts for 75% of skin cancer mortality and only ~4% of skin cancer cases. Because of the high death rates associated with metastatic melanoma, an improved understanding of melanoma pathogenesis is the requirement of the hour.
There are four types of melanoma; they are classified as per the tumour's growth pattern:
Stages of melanoma as per the growth of the tumour are listed below:
Stage I: Less than or equal to 0.75 mm
Stage II: 0.76–1.5 mm
Stage III: 1.51–2.25 mm
Stage IV: 2.26–3.0 mm
Stage V: >3.0 mm
Stages as per the pathogenesis of tumour are listed below:
Level one: Melanoma cells are confined to the epidermis (melanoma in situ)
Level two: Invasion of single cells or small nests of melanoma in the papillary dermis
Level three: Melanoma cells expand and occupy the papillary dermis
Level four: Invasion in the reticular dermis
Level five: Invasion in the subcutaneous fat.
Signs of melanoma are listed below:
Causes
The causes of melanoma are listed below-
Melanoma can be prevented by minimizing exposure to sunlight. The following measures can help you avert melanoma:
The diagnosis of melanoma includes physical examination and laboratory workup. In physical examination, melanoma characteristics such as asymmetry, irregular border, colour variation, predominantly white, and red and blue tones in a black or brown lesion; diameters >6 mm or elevated surface of the tumour are evaluated with biopsy. Moreover, the biopsy helps us differentiate stages 1 and 2 in thickness, and it can obtain a specimen for pathological testing.
Laboratory investigations such as complete blood count, lactate dehydrogenase, and complete blood chemistry panel such as alkaline phosphatase, total protein, hepatic transaminase and albumin are evaluated.
Radiographic imaging is considered a diagnostic workup.
Treatment of melanoma is listed below:
Surgical resection
Surgical resection is the method of surgically removing the tumour and surrounding healthy tissue for localized and non-malignant melanoma. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is performed in patients with tumour sizes of >0.8 mm. On identifying the melanoma cells in the sentinel lymph nodes, the remaining lymph node may be surgically removed. In certain conditions, the metastatic tumour may be attempted for surgical resection.
Chemotherapy
The patients with metastatic melanoma relying only on surgical treatment is insufficient, and drug therapies play an essential role in managing melanoma. Dacarbazine has remained the standard of care for metastatic melanoma. The survival rate is 27%, and the survival period is from 5 to 11 months.
Targeted therapies
Targeted therapies such as BRAF inhibitors, dabrafenib and vemurafenib are approved to treat metastatic and unresectable BRAF-mutated melanoma. However, 50% of the patient receiving these drugs develop secondary resistance in a short time period.
Immune response in melanoma or immunotherapies
Immune checkpoint inhibitors a type of immunotherapy that is used in melanoma treatment. There are three immune checkpoint inhibitors drugs, such as ipilimumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab, used to treat melanoma.
Diet modifications of the melanoma patient play an important role in the management:
Modifying the diet by increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables is beneficial in the prevention of cancer. Tea and coffee are rich in antioxidants such as quinic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid, which are beneficial for preventing cancer.
There are no alternative treatments for melanoma.
References.
A dermatologist explains why younger adults, especially men, are becoming prone to skin cancer, and shares tips to reduce the risk.
Moles are usually harmless but sometimes existing moles can change into melanoma. Get to know how normal moles are different melanomas.
Melanoma is a type of aggressive skin cancer which begins in the cells called melanocytes - which controls the pigment of your skin.
A form of vitamin B3 may protect skin cells from the effects of UV rays, which causes non-melanoma skin cancer, according to new research. Read on to know more.
With this wearable patch, melanoma patients may not have to go through those painful conventional therapies, like chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Both environmental and genetic factors can contribute to the development of skin cancer. But exposure to the harmful UV rays is known to be the leading cause of melanoma, which is more common in men.
Consult a doctor, if you notice such changes in your or your partner's skin. It could be signs of skin cancer.
Melanoma is the most virulent of all skin cancers. But you can take the necessary precautions if you are aware of the common risk factors like light-coloured skin, exposure to UV rays, etc. Read on to know more.
Do you bite your nails? You are definitely going to stop after reading this shocking news from Australia. Believe it or not, biting your nails could lead to skin cancer!
While exposure to the sun is thought to be the prime cause, there are other factors that can play a spoilsport.
Harnessing the gene behind hair loss could help improve cancer immunotherapy.
Vision is always affected by albinism.
The researchers also suggested that tailoring prevention efforts to different professions based on their individual needs could help lower the global burden of non-melanoma skin cancer.
But despite the promising results from the experiment, the researchers do not envisage that the CNN would take over from dermatologists in diagnosing skin cancers, but that it could be used as an additional aid.
Bariatric surgery, can help to decrease the possibility of skin cancer
Men: As per research, aspirin can cause certain cancers
Men beware! Consuming aspirin daily can put you at the risk of skin cancer
Patients who combe beta blockers with immunotherapy has a greater chance of survival.
A dermatologist explains why younger adults, especially men, are becoming prone to skin cancer, and shares tips to reduce the risk.
Moles are usually harmless but sometimes existing moles can change into melanoma. Get to know how normal moles are different melanomas.
Melanoma is a type of aggressive skin cancer which begins in the cells called melanocytes - which controls the pigment of your skin.
A form of vitamin B3 may protect skin cells from the effects of UV rays, which causes non-melanoma skin cancer, according to new research. Read on to know more.
With this wearable patch, melanoma patients may not have to go through those painful conventional therapies, like chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Both environmental and genetic factors can contribute to the development of skin cancer. But exposure to the harmful UV rays is known to be the leading cause of melanoma, which is more common in men.
Consult a doctor, if you notice such changes in your or your partner's skin. It could be signs of skin cancer.
Melanoma is the most virulent of all skin cancers. But you can take the necessary precautions if you are aware of the common risk factors like light-coloured skin, exposure to UV rays, etc. Read on to know more.
Do you bite your nails? You are definitely going to stop after reading this shocking news from Australia. Believe it or not, biting your nails could lead to skin cancer!
While exposure to the sun is thought to be the prime cause, there are other factors that can play a spoilsport.
Harnessing the gene behind hair loss could help improve cancer immunotherapy.
Vision is always affected by albinism.
The researchers also suggested that tailoring prevention efforts to different professions based on their individual needs could help lower the global burden of non-melanoma skin cancer.
But despite the promising results from the experiment, the researchers do not envisage that the CNN would take over from dermatologists in diagnosing skin cancers, but that it could be used as an additional aid.
Bariatric surgery, can help to decrease the possibility of skin cancer
Men: As per research, aspirin can cause certain cancers
Men beware! Consuming aspirin daily can put you at the risk of skin cancer
Patients who combe beta blockers with immunotherapy has a greater chance of survival.