Overview – Causes, Stats on Melanoma
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that grows in a certain specific type of skin cell. Cancer outbreak begins when cancerous cells in our body spread and multiply.
The top layer of the skin or epidermis is made up of squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes. These melanocytes help the skin from harsh ultraviolet (UV) radiation by producing melanin. But sometimes, these melanocytes behave in a weird pattern and grow in an uncontrolled manner by penetrating in the lower layers of skin, giving rise to cancer cells called melanoma.
Melanoma produces a brown pigment called melanin and hence the color of our skin. Let us understand the causes and stats on melanoma, the worst type of skin cancer.
The UV rays of the sun can damage the skin cells. Melanin safeguards the deeper layers of our skin from the sun rays. The reason behind darkening or tanning of the skin in sunlight is due to melanocytes producing more pigment.
Causes of melanoma
Most skin cancers are caused by constant exposure to the sun rays. It is said that UV-A and UV-B rays are the primary cause of melanoma. But melanoma cancer is caused by environmental location and partly due to genes. However, experts believe that factors such as fair skin complexion that freckles or can burn easily, multiple moles on the face, five or more atypical moles and family history, red or light colored hair also play a role in this.
Apart from the above factors, another one is using tanning beds, which emit dangerous UV rays to speed up the tanning process. Usage of tanning beds under the age of 30 years can pose a severe risk for melanoma.
Contrary to the belief that melanoma only occurs on the face, it is not entirely true. Melanoma can occur anywhere on the skin including eyes, neck, chest, genitals, and even anal area.
Stats and facts about melanoma
Not just melanoma, basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer are most common types of skin cancers. But melanoma is the worst type of skin cancer and very dangerous if spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma is the fifth most common type of cancer found in men. On an estimate, melanoma accounts for around 1 percent of all the skin cancer in the country. If one goes by racial factors, around 2.6 percent of whites, 0.1 percent of blacks, and 0.58 percent of Hispanics are affected by melanoma.
Age also plays a big role in contracting melanoma. Though 63 years is the average age when melanoma is diagnosed, some people are even at the age of 30 years. Statistics show that melanoma cases have drastically increased over the past three decades. Talking of survival rate, melanoma has five-year survival rate over 98 percent, if diagnosed in the earlier stage. Around 11 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapies have been developed for treating melanoma.
Though melanoma is a dangerous type of skin cancer, it is curable at an early stage. With little prevention and protecting the skin from UV rays, you can prevent the outbreak of melanoma skin cancer.
