What is melanoma skin

cancer?
Melanoma is a cancer that starts in a
certain type of skin cell. To understand
melanoma, it helps to know about the
normal structure and function of the skin.
There are three main types of skin cancer.
These are malignant melanoma, basal cell
carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
While melanoma is the most life
threatening of the three, it is also the most
common. It will usually appear as a large
mole or lesion on the skin, and usually
suddenly. It generally tends to appear on
the lower-backs of men and lower-legs of
women, though in elderly, sun-damaged
person, it is also prone to forming on the
head and neck.



Skin Cancer
Melanoma

Lizadora Jones
06/20/2014
HCA /240


This Brochure is about Melanoma
awareness. What to do to prevent and
treatment necessary. While treatment is
very successful when caught in the early
stages, waiting too long can dramatically
decrease the success rate of treatments.
Catching the cancer early can result in
simply having the mole-looking cancer
removed, but if a patient delays treatment
for any reason the cancer may spread to
other (possibly vital) organs such as the
digestive tract, lungs, eyes, or lymph
nodes.








WHAT IS
MELANOMA
SKIN CANCER?
YOUR GUIDE
TO ALL THINGS
What is melanoma skin cancer?
Your Guide to All things



Risk Factors:
Ultra Violet (UV) light exposure A
person increases risks of MELANOMA
by 75% when exposed to UV radiation
from indoor tanning.

Family history of melanoma Linked to
genetics and similar skin type.
Skin Type fair skin and freckles more
common.
Age & gender One of most common
cancers for people ages 15-29; men 2x
more likely to be diagnosed than women.
Melanoma affects the body by
causing browning of the skin.
Melanoma is also common in
moles but tend to be darker than
most. Treatment for skin cancer
varies depending on whether it has
spread to other parts of the body. If
it hasnt than your doctor will
suggest that you have the tumor
removed through surgery.




Do you know your ABCs?
Following the ABCs of melanoma, you
will be able to recognize moles that might be
cancerous:
Asymmetry
- If opposite sides of mole are
unequal and do not match the
mole is suspicious.
Border
- If moles border is irregular
or raised it is suspicious.
Color
- Variation of color within a
mole (more than one color or
shade) is considered
suspicious.
Diameter
- Any mole with a diameter
greater than 6mm is
considered suspicious.




What Can you do to prevent
Melanoma?
1. Limit ultraviolet (UV) light
exposure.
2. Wear hat
3. Apply sunscreen regularly
( Specially when the sun is stronger
between 10 am and 4 pm)
4. Wear sunglasses that provides
UVA and UVB.
5. Seek Shade!!
6. Avoid tanning beds. ( It has been
known that tanning is also a factor that
has caused skin cancer)
7. Perform self-body checks and
have an annual full body skin
exam with a dermatologist.