LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Melanoma: Body
built 615 days ago
Melanoma may be classified histomorphologically as either superficial spreading, nodular, and lentigo maligna types. This once was given significant prognostic value, but, as explained later, the significance of morphology may have been overemphasized in the past. Approximately 50 to 80% of melanomas are of the superficial spreading type, in which the melanoma evolves from a radial growth phase into a vertical growth phase over a period of years. Nodular melanomas appear to evolve over a period of months, beginning in a vertical growth phase from the onset. Lentigo maligna melanoma occurs in later ages from a preexisting lentigo maligna on a sun-exposed area of the body.
Source:
Melanoma begins on the surface of the skin where it is easy to see and treat. If given time to grow, melanoma can grow down into the skin, ultimately reaching the blood and lymphatic vessels, and apread around the body (metastasize), causing life-threatening illness. It is curable when detected early, but can be fatal if allowed to progress and spread. The goal is to detect melanoma early when it is still on the surface of the skin.
Source:
Melanoma affects equal numbers of men and women and can develop on any part of the body. It usually appears after age 50, although it can develop at any age. People with light skin are more likely to develop melanoma than dark-skinned people.
Source:
Melanoma can appear anywhere on the body — soles, palms, inside the mouth, genitalia, and underneath nails. However, it is most commonly found on the back, buttocks, legs, scalp, neck, and behind the ears.
Source:
Melanoma lesions do not necessarily manifest themselves in areas that have EVER had direct sun exposure. In other words, it is imperative to check parts of the body that have not been directly exposed to the sun-on the head under a full head of hair, behind the ears, genital areas, between the toes, etc.
Source:
Melanoma most often appears on fair-skinned men and women, but people with other skin types can be affected. Rarely, melanomas can form in parts of the body not covered by skin such as the eyes, mouth, vagina, large intestine, and other internal organs.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Body