One should always suspect the presence of a melanoma tumor and talk to his doctor in case of detection of a dark lesion, with jagged edges and different shades of color, with a diameter greater than 6 mm that has evolved over time.
There are four major types of melanoma skin cancer:
Lentigo Maligna Melanoma
Lentigo Maligna Melanoma represents the 5-10 of all cases of cutaneous melanoma. It can be found especially in the face and in the neck and it\'s related to continuous exposure to sunlight. Develops as an asymmetric patch, its color ranges from brown to black and has some areas of hypopigmentation. This type of melanoma does not have any signs or symptoms and evolves slowly and irregularly for years until it reachs a diameter of several centimeters. At some point, it can penetrate into deeper skin levels and increase the risk of metastasis.
Superficial Spreading Melanoma
This type of melanoma cancer is the most common, around 60 to 70 of cases. It may appear in the backs of men and in women\'s legs. Some of the risk factors associated with this type of melanoma are:
- the presence of congenital and atypical nevi;
- fair skin;
- a family history of malignant melanoma;
- excessive exposure to the sun during childhood.
Nodular Melanoma
Nodular Melanoma has a frequency of 10 to 15 and is usually found in men around 50 - 60 years. It\'s characterized by the appearance of a lump that grows quickly in about 6 to 18 months. This type of cancer can affect all parts of the skin and it doesn\'t have symptoms. Sometimes the diagnosis is difficult because it doesn\'t show the typical tumoral color.
Acral Lentiginous Melanoma
This is the most rare type of melanoma skin cancer. Usually appears as a variously pigmented patch with irregular edges and increases in size over time. It mostly occurs at the ends of the limbs, in hands and feets and it\'s mostly found in dark-skinned men. Resembles the lentigo maligna melanoma and the superficial spreading melanoma. It spreads superficially for a relatively long time before it penetrates into deeper levels of the skin.
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Finally, if you are interested in more information about the melanoma skin cancer you can check out The Melanoma Skin Cancer website at http://themelanomaskincancer.com.
