liz askew Oct 25, 2006:

p.s. it's still a "serious illness" as the cancer can spread through the lympathic system if not caught/treated early enough.

liz askew Oct 25, 2006:

and: http://209.85.129.104/search?q=cache:ZX_vdlODPqQJ:www.cover-...


Malignant melanoma, also known as melanoma, is the most serious type of skin cancer.
It usually develops in cells in the outer layer of the skin.
The first visible signs of this may be a change in the normal look or feel of a mole.
Malignant melanoma occurs clinically in four forms:
• Lentigo maligna (Hutchinson's freckle)
• Superficial spreading melanoma
• Nodular melanoma
• Acral lentiginous melanoma Melanoma is a malignant tumour that originates in melanocytes, the cells that produce the pigment melanin that colours skin, hair, and eyes and is heavily concentrated in most moles.
The majority of melanomas, therefore, are black or brown.
However, melanomas occasionally stop producing pigment.
When that happens, the melanomas may no longer be dark, but are skin-coloured, pink, red, or purple.
Like most cancers, melanoma is best treated when it is diagnosed early.
Melanoma can spread or metastasise quickly to other parts of the body through the lymph system or through the blood.
Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body; they produce and store infection-fighting cells.
Melanoma is described as either 'in situ' or invasive.
In situ is Latin and means 'in one site' or localised.
Melanomas in situ occupy only the uppermost part of the epidermis, the top layers of the skin.
Malignant melanomas Invasive melanomas are more serious, as they have penetrated more deeply into the skin and may have travelled from the original tumour through the body.
Surgery to remove the tumour is the primary treatment for all stages of melanoma.
It may be removed using the following operations: °Ω Local excision – which involves taking out the melanoma and some of the normal tissue around it.

Melanoma (PDQ®): Tratamiento - National Cancer Institute - [ Translate this page ]
Grado I: Lesiones que solo complican a la epidermis (melanoma in situ); no es una lesión invasora. Grado II: Infiltración de la dermis papilar, ...
www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/melanoma/HealthProfe... - 59k - Cached - Similar pages

liz askew Oct 25, 2006:

See:Melanoma (PDQ®): Tratamiento - National Cancer Institute - [ Translate this page ]Grado I: Lesiones que solo complican a la epidermis (melanoma in situ); no es una lesión invasora. Grado II: Infiltración de la dermis papilar, ...
www.cancer.gov/esp