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Malignant Melanoma Treatments Include:
melanoma specialist Advice & Treatment IN CANTERBURY & KENT
Malignant Melanoma is a skin cancer accounting for around 3% of skin cancer in the UK. It is a malignant tumour arising from the melanocytes – the cells that produce brown pigment and moles. When melanocytes become malignant they form melanoma, but a pre-cancerous variant called lentigo maligna exists. In the early stages, melanoma can be slow-growing, in later stages it has the potential to spread (or metastasise) to other areas of the body.
Alternative names: Melanoma, skin cancer, cancerous mole.
WHAT CAUSES MALIGNANT MELANOMA?
Melanoma is a skin cancer that usually starts in the skin and develops when skin cells begin to develop abnormally. It can start in a mole or even in normal looking skin and develops when melanocyte cells, the cells that produce brown pigment and moles, grow and divide at a quicker rate than usual.
As with all skin cancers, exposure to ultraviolet light (UV light) is the common cause. You also have an increased risk to developing malignant melanoma if you have lots of moles or freckles. If you have a pale skin type which is prone to burning or have a family history of the disease you are also more at risk.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS/TYPES OF MALIGNANT MELANOMA?
The appearance of a new mole, or any changes to an existing mole could be an indication of a melanoma. This is why it is so important to regularly check and monitor your moles for any changes. In most cases, melanomas are more than one colour and are irregular in shape, they can sometimes be itchy and bleed.
There are four main types of malignant melanoma, superficial spreading melanoma, nodular melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma.
SUPERFICIAL SPREADING MELANOMA
Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common type of melanoma in the UK. They are more common in people with pale skin. Initially, they will grow outwards, rather than downwards into the skin where they will not pose a problem, however they can grow down deep into the skin where they can spread to other parts of the body.
NODULAR MELANOMA
Nodular melanomas grow much quicker into the deeper layers of the skin so it is vital they are spotted and removed quickly. Their appearance is a changing lump on the skin which is dark in colour and they often ooze or bleed. They often grow on normal skin, rather than an existing mole and commonly appear on the neck, head, chest and back.
LENTIGO MALIGNA MELANOMA
Lentigo maligna melanoma develop slowly over many years in areas which are commonly exposed to the sun such as the face and the arms. As they develop slowly, they are often found in older people, particularly those who have spent a lot of time outdoors. They often look like freckles, but are darker and larger so more noticeable. They will gradually grow bigger and can grow downwards to the deeper layers of the skin forming lumps.
ACRAL LENTIGINOUS
Acral lentiginous melanomas are very rare and appear on the hands or the feet, particularly around a nail. They are most common in people with darker skin but can affect anyone.
HOW CAN MALIGNANT MELANOMA BE PREVENTED?
Melanoma is not always preventable, but avoiding getting sunburned or spending time tanning can increase your risk factor.
Regularly checking and monitoring your moles for changes is vital to spotting malignant melanoma and getting it treated as soon as possible. Here is what you should be looking out for when checking your moles:
A Asymmetry – one half doesn’t match the other half
B Borders – the mole has uneven borders
C Colour – there is a variety of colours in the mole (brown, tan or black)
D Diameter – the mole grows larger than a pencil eraser (¼ inch)
E Evolution – the mole evolves in size, shape, colour, elevation or there is a new characteristic
If you notice any changes to your moles, make an appointment with a consultant dermatologist who will be able to quickly diagnose and if necessary provide treatment.
HOW CAN MALIGNANT MELANOMA BE TREATED?
The main treatment for malignant melanoma is surgery to remove the lesion from the skin. If melanoma is diagnosed and treated early enough, surgery is usually successful. Surgical excision works by cutting the cancer away from the skin, ensuring no cancerous cells are left behind. The skin can usually be closed with a few stitches or a skin graft depending the size of the lesion.
It is important to diagnose melanoma early and treat it as soon possible because the earlier a patient’s cancerous cells are found, the less likely they will have cosmetic consequences or spread.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT DOES MALIGNANT MELANOMA LOOK LIKE?
Melanomas tend to resemble a mole that is undergoing changes in size, shape or colour. They may become lumpy or ‘nodular’ and even ulcerate with bleeding. Sometimes they occur in a pre-existing mole, but around half the time they arise in an area or normal skin.
WHAT SHOULD I BE LOOKING OUR FOR?
- A: Asymmetry – the mole looks unusual, asymmetrical or irregular
- B: Border – the border becomes blurred, ill-defined or irregular
- C: Colour – more than 2 colours appear in the mole including brown, black or light areas giving a mottled appearance. A very dark or black appearance can occur
- D: Diameter – if a mole is getting bigger it should be reviewed.
- E: Evolving – if a mole changes it should be reviewed
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WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF MALIGNANT MELANOMA?
Pre-melanoma (lentigo maligna) and the earliest phase of melanoma (in-situ melanoma) are almost always cured with surgery. For melanoma beyond these early stages, it is the depth into the skin that the melanoma reaches that tells us how the disease might behave. This depth is termed the ’Breslow thickness’. The Breslow thickness will determine whether you require a simple excision or furthermore complex surgery including lymph gland biopsy.
The degree of spread a melanoma has undergone will be classified by stages:
- Stage I:Â Localised to the original site only
- Stage II: Localised to the skin only – the original site plus local skin spread
- Stage III:Â Spread to the nearby lymph glands
- Stage IV:Â Spread to the internal organs of the body
For more information on malignant melanoma, please see the British Association of Dermatologists website melanoma advice leaflets for stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, and stage 4 melanoma.
AM I MORE LIKELY TO GET MALIGNANT MELANOMA AGAIN IF I'VE HAD IT BEFORE?
If you have already had melanoma, there is a chance it may return again, particularly if the cancer was more advanced or widespread. Your doctors will discuss this with you and will regularly monitor you for signs it has returned.
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WHY TREAT YOUR SKIN CANCER AT CANTERBURY SKIN AND LASER CLINIC?
Here at Kent’s leading private skin and laser clinic, our experts are specialists in all aspects of dermatology, skin cancer, anti-ageing and beauty treatments. We are one of the few skin clinics in the UK where all medical consultations and treatments are provided by specialist doctors with Dermatology experience and laser training.
Canterbury Skin and Laser Clinic is regulated by the Care Quality Commission, ensuring the best level of treatment is provided to you in a safe environment. Our Clinical Lead Dr Mark Hudson-Peacock is a member of the British Association of Dermatologists, the British Laser Medical Association, the British Hair and Nail Society, the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology and is certified by the Consulting Room. We have won many awards including the WhatClinic Patient Service Award in 2019 and the ghp Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Awards 2019.
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