Incidence
The incidence of melanoma varies geographically. Australia has the highest incidence, with 1 in 25 people succumbing to the disease in their lifetime, compared to 1 in 5000 in the USA and European countries.
Causes
High peaks to sun exposure (eg. sunburn in childhood) and overall lifetime overexposure to ultraviolet radiation contributes substantially to melanoma
Symptoms
Melanomas can present themselves as moles in areas all over the body, from both areas that are constantly, and never, exposed to the sun. Along with being found on the skin, they can present themselves under finger or toe nails, in the mouth, digestive tract, vagina, and in the eye.
The self -examination guide can be used to detect melanomas or other skin cancers:
A (asymmetrical): moles with an irregular shape may be skin cancers or melanoma.
B (border): melanomas have irregular, ragged or blurred borders.
C (colour): melanomas may have a changing or irregular colour, which can range between black, brown and blue.
D (diameter): growths larger than 6mm (1/4 diameter) may suggest melanoma.
E (evolving): check for any moles that appear to change shape, colour or size.
Other symptoms of a changing mole to be wary of are itching, a change in texture, and oozing or bleeding.
Treatment
Surgical removal, such as excision or mohs surgery, is used to remove melanomas. When the cancer grows, it is able to spread (metastasis) via the blood stream, which gives it access to distant organs, where it can form secondary tumours. Advanced melanomas are treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.
Online resources
- Body Mole Map from the American Academy of Dermatology
- AT-RISC Alliance - Dedicated to the reduction of incidence and severity of skin cancer in organ transplant patients
- A-Z of Skin: Types of Skin Cancers. Includes images and differences between three main types of Skin Cancer from the Australasian College of Dermatologists
- Skin self examination: how to perform a self examination for skin cancers, with images from DermNet NZ
- Types of skin cancer - quick reference guide with images from SunSmart Victoria
Online associations
- Melanoma International Foundation
- Melanoma Patients Australia
- American Melanoma Foundation
- The Melanoma Foundation (Australia)
- Cancer Council Australia
- Skin and Cancer Foundation Victoria
- International Transplant Skin Cancer Collaboration (ITSCC)
- The Skin Cancer Foundation (USA)
- Society for Melanoma Research
- Melanoma Research Foundation
