how common is melanoma?
463277
Melanoma affects about 55,000 americans at this moment. More people have Melanoma than prostate and colon cancer. So its a pretty common cancer.
964470
Well, to start out, nobody can ever assure you that you are in the clear. Not even a doctor can assure you that. I'm not an oncologist, but my dad has been fighting a rare form of reoccurent melanoma for over a decade. He's had lots of "spots" removed, and they have had to go back in because they didn't go deep enough to get all of it. If my dad's statistics are any indication, they often do get it all the first time. However, you still need to be viligant in watching your skin because it can reoccur.\n\nBest wishes for good health.
747927
My mother has a melanoma on the side of her nose. It too looked strange and was a little dark. It was early stage melanoma and she elected to just have the cancer cells scraped instead of having half her nose removed.\n\nYou need to be evaluated and possibly have a biopsy to rule out cancer.\n\nGood luck!
821144
I think he is in remission, as his last treatment was in 2002.  No other updates have been posted onto the Internet, so I can assume there have been no further outbreaks of melanoma.  I agree, my thoughts and prayers also go out to him.
236261
It means that you have melanocytes in the dermal layer of the skin.  Nevus means that it is a mole.  THIS IS NOT CANCER.\n\nBasically there are a few types of moles.  A compound nevus refers to a mole in both the epidermis and dermis. An intradermal nevus means that it does not extend up into the epidermis.\n\nMelanocytic means that the nevus is made up of melanocytes.  These are the cells that give moles color and give darker skinned persons their color.  Since it does not say "melanoma" it is not considered to be malignant.
644171
For melanoma, the most serious form.. a new mole or change in a mole is a sign..\n\nA for Asymmetry \n\nChange in shape - The mole or freckle is not symmetrical. Its shape may become irregular with one side not matching the other.\n\nB for Border\n\nChange in the border - The border of the mole or freckle is notched, jagged, spiky or blurred. \n\nC for Colour\n\nChange in colour - The mole or freckle may have changed to tan, brown or black with a mixture of red, gray, white or blue. The colour is uneven and may spread from its edges into the surrounding skin. \n\nD for Diameter\n\nChange in size - The mole or freckle may have grown larger and spread sideways. If a melanoma develops in an existing mole the texture will change, possibly becoming hard, lumpy or scaly. It may be itchy and ooze or bleed forming a crust. They normally do not cause pain.\n\nSome individuals think of "ABCDE" where E is for Elevation. Melanomas may initially be flat but later become raised.
232099
My guess is melanocytic naevus more commonly known as a mole. Moles are most often of no medical consequence, but since they are permanent, they may occasionally be removed for cosmetic or other reasons. There is enormous variation to as what these little suckers look like, just because it doesn't look like one of your moles doesn't necessarily mean its dangerous. If it does cause her any discomfort, or looks dangerous i would advise a meeting with a dermatologist.
1105736
Absolutely.  Skin cancer is caused by the sun damaging the skin.  You do not have to ever get sun burned to get skin cancer.  Some people tan very easily and never burn, but the repeated and/or prolonged exposure to the sun's damaging rays damages the skin cells causing cancer.  People with light complexions and well as dark complexions and every where in between NEED to wear a good sun block to prevent the sun's damaging rays from actually damaging the skin.  It is also recommended that people with light colored eyes (blue/green) wear sunglasses when out in the sun.  Apparently lighter colored eyes are sensitive (or more so) to the suns harmful rays.
528061
A birthmark does not necessarily have to be there from birth - they are benign skin pigment tumors, benign forms of melanoma if you like. Yes, they CAN appear well after birth, mostly because of exposure to sun. If your b/f has a new one, don't panic, you don't have to take him to a doc yet. BUT if it continues to grow, it turs itchy or sore, it bleeds, take him to a dermatologist ASAP.
167908
Earths terminal cancer, melanoma Homo sapiens
616751
Cancer of the heart muscle called angiosarcoma do occur but are rare and\noccur more often in children and more often in the right side of the heart.\nCancers like melanoma are known to spread to the heart. That being said, it\nis somewhat curious why certain tissues are less susceptible to cancer.\nThis is typically ascribed to the belief that the more cells that are\nactively dividing in an organ or tissue the less likely that organ or tissue\nwill have a cancer arise in it.  So skin, intestine and bone marrow which\nhave high populations of dividing cells are more often to have a cancer\narise in their cells than the heart whose muscle tissue is essentially\nnon-dividing.
503274
it doesnt mater where they came from they will be effected the same wherever they go if they are exposed to the same amount of sun. skin cancer does happen to black people but it is much more common in whites. blacks do have a little bit better protection but the main reason that skin cancer is more common in whites is that they are always trying to tan themselves.
702931
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Melanoma_Deadlier_in_Blacks.asp
641406
go to http://uk.ask.com/#subject:ask|pg:1 and chose "pictures" then type in melanoma and a whole bunch of pics come up.  Good luck
846804
I can't answer your question specifically but can point you to an excellent resource for Melanoma patients. \n\nMelanoma Patients Information Page\nhttp://www.mpip.org/\n\nThey have an active Bulletin Board filled with patients and caregivers who would be better able to answer this question than anyone here:\n\nhttp://www.mpip.org/bb/bbindex.html\n\nYou can use the Search function on the Bulletin Board to locate all comments about IL-2 cancer treatments.\n\nGood luck!
896885
No, it is more common than people realize. It is part of a closure process
241272
Sorry to have to be the first to tell you NOT to get as dark as you can.  After seeing my grandfather after a 17 hour surgery to remove skin cancer from his ear and face (they actually removed and than reattached his ear) and then having my 16 year old son diagnosed and treated for Melanoma (the most deadly form of skin cancer), I can't say enough times to protect your skin.  Our dermatologist said tans are just a sign of how damaged your skin is.  Save your money and possibly your life - don't use a tanning bed.