What are Melanomas?
Melanocytes are cells in the skin that contain a pigment called melanin, which is a dark colored pigment also found in the hair and in the eye. These cells live between the epidermis and dermis — the top two layers of the skin. As people age, or get lots of sun, the number of melanocytes in the skin may increase forming dark spots or moles. Most melanomas are benign, which means they are not harmful in any way. In some cases, however, these dark spots or moles can develop into melanomas that are malignant, which means they are a sign of a serious form of skin cancer. The development of malignant melanomas has been linked to overexposing the skin to the sun. In fact, some doctors believe that receiving just one serious sunburn can double a person’s likelihood of developing malignant melanomas. In addition, two serious sunburns in a person’s childhood or adolescent years can triple the likelihood of developing malignant melanomas. Malignant melanomas may appear anywhere on a person’s bod
Melanomas are tumors of melanocytes, which are the pigmented cells in the skin and other tissues (eg, hair and eyes). Melanomas can be found on dogs or cats, and can be benign or malignant. Where on the body are malignant melanomas usually found? Malignant melanomas are common in the mouth, on the skin, and on the toes of the paws. Lumps may be found on hairy or hairless skin, and they may appear darkly pigmented or non-pigmented. How are these tumors diagnosed? Melanocytes have a characteristic appearance that can be identified during microscopic examination of a biopsy sample. Other tests, including blood tests, medical imaging, and lymph node biopsy, may be needed to gauge the stage and extent of the cancer. How are these tumors treated? Primary treatment is surgical removal of the lump, although chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy may also be recommended.
Melanomas are cells in the skin that contain a pigment called melanin, which is a dark colored pigment also found in the hair and in the eye. Most melanomas are benign, which means they are not harmful in any way. In some cases, however, melanomas may be malignant, which means they are a sign of a serious form of skin cancer. The development of malignant melanomas has been linked to overexposing the skin to the sun. In fact, some doctors believe that receiving just one serious sunburn can double a person’s likelihood of developing malignant melanomas. In addition, two serious sunburns in a person’s childhood or adolescent years can triple the likelihood of developing malignant melanomas. Malignant melanomas may appear anywhere on a person’s body, including hard to see areas such as in the nail bed, on the scalp, and inside the mouth or nose. Regardless of the location, there are several signs a person should look for when identifying malignant melanomas. The most common technique
