Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the world. It’s a skin cancer and occurs wherever there is skin that has had prolonged exposure to the sun. It has become so common, in fact, that more people will be diagnosed with this skin cancer than the combined amounts of people who will be diagnosed with prostate, lung, breast, and colon cancer every year. In the United States, about 5 million people are treated for skin cancer annually. 20% of Americans will have skin cancer in their lifetime, so it is important to know these interesting facts.
1. It’s deadlier than people give it credit.
Melanoma isn’t the most common skin cancer there is. It’s only about 5% of the total amount of skin cancers that are diagnosed every year. The problem is that for those who die from skin cancer, 71% of those deaths will be caused by Melanoma. About 60,000 cases of this skin cancer are diagnosed every year and no significant advances in treatment protocols for this cancer have been developed in the last 30 years, so proactive prevention is extremely beneficial.
2. It affects the young and the old.
The average age for a person to be diagnosed with Melanoma is 52. That doesn’t mean that it won’t affect the younger population demographics. For people who are between the ages of 25-29, Melanoma is actually the second most common form of cancer that is diagnosed. Just because it is common, however, doesn’t mean that a lot is being done to stop it. Melanoma is only #8 on the overall research funding list right know in the United States. The only group that really isn’t affected by this cancer, in fact, are children who have not yet reached the age of puberty
3. Your genetics are going to play a role.
Many people believe that exposure to the UVA/UVB of the sun on a consistent basis is the primary reason why Melanoma can develop, but this isn’t actually a true assumption. The most important of the known risk factors for this skin cancer are actually genetically based. People who have prominent moles, atypical moles, and widespread freckles are at a higher risk of developing Melanoma. This is why it is important to have all changing freckles and moles inspected by a doctor.
4. Sunbathing does add to the risk.
Sunlight might not be a primary factor in Melanoma development, but it certainly plays a role in it. People who regularly sunbathe or using tanning beds to develop tans are increasing their risks of developing cancer with every sun exposure they have. Those risks are enhanced by a natural genetic disposition for the cancer to develop.
5. It’s important to catch it early… very early.
The faster you can catch Melanoma, the better off you’re going to be. When this skin cancer can be caught in its earliest stages, simply removing the cancer from the skin is enough to cure people from the cancer in most cases. This is why looking for changes in color, shape, and size of spots that are on the skin is so important. The instant that a mole or freckle begins to change is the instant that a doctor’s appointment needs to be made.
6. People catch Melanoma just as often as doctors do.
When people are proactive about noticing what is on their skin, they are better able to catch skin cancers like this before they develop into something truly devastating. For patients that are eventually diagnosed with Melanoma, about 50% of them came from discoveries that were made by family, friends, or themselves. Because people go to the doctor once or twice per year at most, self checking is the best way to make sure this cancer is detected in its earliest stages.
7. Melanoma can grow in some surprising places.
For men who are diagnosed with Melanoma, 30% of them will have the cancer be found on their back. Whatever part of your body is most exposed to sunlight is typically going to be the part of the body that is most at risk for skin cancer development. For the average person, this means making sure that their nose, ears, and the back of their neck are adequately protect with sunblock on a clear, sunny day. Sunburns can happen in any weather with prolonged sunlight, so don’t be fooled into thinking that you can’t get a sunburn in Winter. It can and does happen.
8. A number of hidden risks exist for the development of Melanoma.
People may feel like they have avoided their risks of Melanoma, yet still wind up having this skin cancer show up. Why is this, especially if someone doesn’t have the genetic disposition to have the cancer in the first place? It is because childhood events can lead to adult Melanoma development. Severe sunburns as a child, having a fair complexion, or just going to a tanning bed 10 times before the age of 30 are all proven risk factors for Melanoma development.
9. It doesn’t just stay on the skin.
The problem with Melanoma is the same problem that people face with all types of cancer. It can spread to any other place in the body and can begin to damage organs. Once this cancer begins to spread, it is much more difficult to effectively treat. If someone has a later stage of Melanoma, then an aggressive treatment regimen of surgery and chemotherapy is typically used. Radiation therapy and new forms of biological therapy that have the body’s immune system attack the cancers cells have also shown promising outcomes.
Nearly all skin cancers can be cured or forced into remission if they are caught early enough. By being proactive about sun exposure, especially if you have the genetic risk factors to develop this skin cancer in the first place, you can keep your risk levels low for Melanoma and that makes life a little more enjoyable.