Melanoma Skin Cancer Essay

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Many people think that it is possible to achieve a “healthy tan” but this thought has been proven wrong. Over expose to UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun lead to premature aging of the skin, as well as the possible formation of skin cancer, know as melanoma. Although a tan may be desirable to many the fact remains that more people need to be educated on the dangers of the sun’s harmful rays, and the possible health complications of overexposure. Melanoma is a rare but potentially serious type of skin cancer. Skin cancer is a disease in which skin cells lose the ability to divide and grow normally. These abnormal skin cells can grow and form a mass or "tumor." A skin tumor is considered benign (not cancerous) if it is limited to a few cell layers and does not invade surrounding tissues or organs. If the tumor…show more content…
Cancer cells crowd out and destroy nearby healthy cells, forming growths called malignant tumors. Melanoma that spreads to vital organs like the brain or liver can be life-threatening. “Melanoma can appear on normal skin, or it may begin as a mole or other area that has changed in appearance. Some moles can present at birth may develop into melanomas.” (Medline Plus para. 4) There are four major types of melanoma skin cancer, Superficial spreading melanoma, Nodular melanoma, Lentigo maligna melanoma, and Acral lentiginous melanoma. Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common type of melanoma, it comes in different shades of black and brown and it is usually irregular and flat. It may also occur at any age or anywhere on the body, is most common in Caucasians. Nodular melanoma is a dark blackish-blue or bluish-red raised area, but sometimes it doesn’t have a color to the raised area. Lentigo maligna melanoma occurs in the elderly, and is most common in sun-damaged skin on the face, neck, and arms. The abnormal skin areas are

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