Malignant Melanoma of the Foot
Melanoma is cancer of the cells underneath the skin that is responsible for production of pigments (skin color). The cancer is malignant because it expands, and spreads to other areas of the body, with a high mortality rate once progressed to advanced stages. Melanoma can occur in all age groups, even the young.
Melanoma of the foot can often go unnoticed. By the time diagnosis is made, it is frequently in advanced stages. Therefore, early detection and diagnosis is vital.
Cause:
The main cause of melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, or tanning beds. The exposure can be high dose during a short period of time, such as going to the beach, or low dose but long exposure time. Some factors can place a person at higher risk of melanoma such as light skin color, skin with freckles, blond or red hair, blistering sunburn before the age of 18, numerous moles, especially if it appears at a young age.
Signs:
Melanoma can occur anywhere on the skin, even areas of the body that is not exposed to the sun. Melanoma is often present as a spot on the skin which is brown, black or blue. In some cases, it can be white or even red. Four signs of melanoma, known as ABCDs, can be of concern if observed during self inspection.
A careful history and physical exam is vital. The history of the spot in regards to increase in size, bleeding, pain should be concerns. The physician will also determine if biopsy for definitive diagnosis of the lesion is warranted.
Prevention:
Precautions such as use of sunscreen, wearing hats, and sunglasses to decrease exposure to the skin to harmful UV rays from the sun is encouraged. Frequent inspection of the skin to make sure of no irregular lesions is also important. If you wear nail polish, remove it occasionally to check the skin underneath the nail to make sure of no discolored spots/streaks.
Melanoma is cancer of the cells underneath the skin that is responsible for production of pigments (skin color). The cancer is malignant because it expands, and spreads to other areas of the body, with a high mortality rate once progressed to advanced stages. Melanoma can occur in all age groups, even the young.
Melanoma of the foot can often go unnoticed. By the time diagnosis is made, it is frequently in advanced stages. Therefore, early detection and diagnosis is vital.
Cause:
The main cause of melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, or tanning beds. The exposure can be high dose during a short period of time, such as going to the beach, or low dose but long exposure time. Some factors can place a person at higher risk of melanoma such as light skin color, skin with freckles, blond or red hair, blistering sunburn before the age of 18, numerous moles, especially if it appears at a young age.
Signs:
Melanoma can occur anywhere on the skin, even areas of the body that is not exposed to the sun. Melanoma is often present as a spot on the skin which is brown, black or blue. In some cases, it can be white or even red. Four signs of melanoma, known as ABCDs, can be of concern if observed during self inspection.
- Asymmetry - melanoma is usually asymmetrically, which means one half the melanoma is not the same as the other half.
- Border- the border is usually irregular.
- Color - melanoma is typically mixed of colors or hues, rather than a single solid color.
- Diameter - Melanoma grows in diameter, whereas moles remain the same size, and usually small. A spot more than 5mm is cause for concern.
A careful history and physical exam is vital. The history of the spot in regards to increase in size, bleeding, pain should be concerns. The physician will also determine if biopsy for definitive diagnosis of the lesion is warranted.
Prevention:
Precautions such as use of sunscreen, wearing hats, and sunglasses to decrease exposure to the skin to harmful UV rays from the sun is encouraged. Frequent inspection of the skin to make sure of no irregular lesions is also important. If you wear nail polish, remove it occasionally to check the skin underneath the nail to make sure of no discolored spots/streaks.