There are around 16,200 new melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK every year, that's 44 every day. The rate of diagnosis of malignant melanoma in Britain has risen faster than any other common cancer. Over the last decade, the number of people diagnosed with melanoma in the UK has increased by almost half. 

The good news is that there is a 98% survival rate when melanomas are detected early, so what do we need to know to make sure this happens?

What is Melanoma?

Melanoma is a form of cancer that develops in the skin’s pigment cells (melanocytes).

Melanocytes produce melanin to help protect the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight. When melanocyte cells aggregate together in the skin during childhood or adolescence they form a mole.

Most moles are quite safe, however sometimes the melanocytes in a mole begin to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. If they start to grow in an unregulated way, either expanding outwards or down into the lower layers of the skin, they can become a melanoma.

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and grows very quickly if left untreated. It can spread to the lower part of your skin (dermis), enter the lymphatic system or bloodstream and then spread to other parts of the body including the lungs, liver, brain or bone.

Symptoms of Melanoma

Often melanoma has no symptoms, however, the first sign is generally a change in an existing mole or the appearance of a new spot. These changes can include:

• colour - a mole may change in colour, have different colour shades or become blotchy

• size - a mole may appear to get bigger

• shape - a mole may have an irregular border or may increase in height

• elevation - the mole may develop a raised area

• itching or bleeding

Other symptoms include dark areas under nails or on membranes lining the mouth, vagina or anus.

New moles and spots will appear and change during childhood, adolescence and during pregnancy and this is normal. However, adults who develop new spots or moles should have them examined by their doctor.

What Causes Melanoma?

The main preventable cause of melanoma is overexposure to UV radiation from the sun or things such as solarium tanning machines (sunbeds). There are many risk factors that increase the chances of melanoma, including people with fair skin, a high mole count, family history, older age and a pattern of sunburns throughout life, especially during childhood.

Rare melanomas can occur inside the eye or in parts of the skin or body that have never been exposed to the sun.

Can Melanoma be Prevented?

The good news is that if detected early, melanoma can be effectively treated.

That’s why new moles or existing moles that have recently changed appearance must be checked by an experienced skin specialist. In fact, you should have a regular skin check at least once every 12 months to maximise the chances of picking up melanoma early.

Of course, the most effective way to prevent melanoma is to practice sun safety at all times, especially with children). This means:

•  avoiding exposure to the sun during the hottest parts of the day

•  protecting your skin with sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays

•  wearing appropriate, covering clothing and a hat whenever you’re outside, even on cloudy days

ABCDE Examination

The ABCDE examination of moles is an important method for revealing potentially cancerous lesions. It describes five simple characteristics to check for in a mole that can help a person either confirm or rule out melanoma:

• Asymmetric: Noncancerous moles tend to be round and symmetrical, whereas one side of a cancerous mole is likely to look different to the other side.

• Border: This is likely to be irregular rather than smooth and may appear ragged, notched, or blurred.

• Colour: Melanomas tend to contain uneven shades and colours, including black, brown, and tan. They may even contain white or blue pigmentation.

• Diameter: Melanoma can cause a change in the size of a mole. For example, if a mole becomes larger than one-quarter of an inch in diameter, it might be cancerous.

• Evolving: A change in a mole’s appearance over weeks or months can be a sign of skin cancer.

Treatment

The treatment of skin cancer is similar to that of other cancers. However, unlike many cancers inside the body, it is easier to access the cancerous tissue and remove it completely. For this reason, surgery is the standard treatment option for melanoma.

Surgery involves removing the lesion and some of the non-cancerous  tissue around it. When the surgeon removes the lesion, they send it to pathology to determine the extent of the involvement of the cancer, and to make sure that they have removed all of it.

If melanoma covers a large area of skin, a skin graft may be necessary.

If there is a risk that the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, a doctor may request a lymph node biopsy.

They may also recommend radiation therapy for treating melanoma, especially in the later stages.

How Can MedicAlert help?

Our members tell us how their MedicAlert central record and IDs have helped them whilst living with melanoma, or other cancers, both during the treatment phase and also during remission. MedicAlert stores their crucial medical details in case of an emergency, which can be vital. Knowing this service is protecting them 24/7 provides the peace of mind to remain active and independent, which improves their physical and mental health.

References and further reading: 

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/melanoma-skin-cancer

https://www.melanomauk.org.uk/overview-of-melanoma

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/melanoma-skin-cancer/