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Risk Factors For Melanoma

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Risk Factors For Melanoma
ETIOLOGY
Over Exposure to the Sun and/or Tanning Beds are risk factors for Melanoma. It is thought that the Ultraviolet light rays from these affects the Melanocytes (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016). Caucasians; those with light hair, eyes and skin have a higher risk for melanoma (Meffert, 2016).
PATHOLOGY
Melanoma develops in the melanocytes, which produce melanin (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016). Melanoma causes overproduction of melanocytes (The American Cancer Society Medical and Editorial Content Team, 2016). This can eventually lead it to spread to other areas of the body.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Melanoma generally shows up as a mole in areas that generally are exposed to the sun. These include the face, upper body and legs (Harvard Health Publishing, 2014). Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma are noted in the picture to the right.
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They include blood test, x-rays, CT Scans, and multiple biopsy’s, which removes a layer of skin to test (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016).
TREATMENT/MANAGEMENT
Melanoma in its early stage can be treated by removing the tumor itself as well as some skin around it. More advanced Melanoma that has metastasized is treated with Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Biological Therapy and Targeted Therapy (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016).

What is Melanoma

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer(Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016). It generally starts in the outer layer of skin, the Epidermis which has three main cells, the Squamous, Basal and Melanocytes (The American Cancer Society Medical and Editorial Content Team, 2016). It is estimated that in 2017 over 9,000 people will die due to Melanoma and over 87,000 people will be diagnosed (The American Cancer Society Medical and Editorial Content Team, 2016).

Melanoma
KIRSTEN N. BALOG
BIO 101, HUMAN ANATAMOY AND PHYSIOLOGY I
MEDICAL CAREERS INSTITUTE, COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES, ECPI UNIVERSITY
PROFESSOR SIVASUBRAMANIAM VISA

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