The very first caretaker job I took on was providing help to a Melanoma skin cancer patient. She was an Irish descendent woman in her mid-40's who I use to call "cannella". This is Spanish for cinnamon because her skin, her hair and her red freckles reminded me of it.
Although at times, I would take notice of her skin complexion, it never was much of a concern. She was very pale and the older the days got, not only did her skin get paler but it also start to get much more delicate to all light in general. This is one sign she says that begin to get her worried.
She found out she had melanoma shortly after she started noticing, what is called the melanoma staging, which is unusual lumps and blotches on her skin. Before going to seek treatment she would always say her skin condition would go away someday but it only worsen.
She was told she had Melanoma, stage II and that it was malignant. In the beginning, she was told she had squamous cell carcinoma, which is a nonmelanoma skin cancer.
Squamous is a form of skin cancer that resembles scales or a flat like thin scale on the skin usually found on the face area including the lips, ear and neck area.
Skin cancer falls into two groups; nonmelanoma and melanoma. Squamous skin cancer is considered nonmelanoma since it forms in cells that develop on sun exposed areas.
Melanoma is skin cancer that forms in the melanocytes, which is the cell that produces Melanin, the skin natural color pigment, usually a brown tint or darker.
The first signs of melanoma, early signs and symptoms of melanoma usually begin with moles. If you are noticing an increase in new moles or changes to your moles that you currently have on the body, these could be warning signs of melanoma.
Signs of nonmelanoma usually begin on your upper body, as I mentioned, your face, neck area, back or chest area. It should be noted that the most common locator of nonmelanoma, called Basal cell carcinoma, is on the nose.
It is reported that basal cell carcinoma is more common than squamous cell skin cancer.
Despite different location sites, shapes and colors the treatment for this cancers are usually followed by the same treatment.
In the case of my skin cancer patient, the lumps that she start to notice increased from 3 to 6 and was told it was spreading rapidly. Because of this reason, if you notice a change in the shape and size of a mole or the color of it, consulting your healthcare provider is crucial and could be life saving.
Caring for a Melanoma cancer patient requires a lot of care, love and patients. Learning of this skin cancer can help you become a better health care provider.
Showing posts with label define melanoma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label define melanoma. Show all posts
Monday, December 2, 2013
Saturday, November 30, 2013
What is Melanoma and why it causes cancer
Melanoma is the most infectious, fatal and dangerous disease since first detected in the early 70's. Why Melanoma is so malignant and vicious studies have yet to determine per contra, the main factor as to what triggers the mutation that leads to rapid cancerous growth is exposure to heat or light absorbed from the sun.
The definition of Melanoma is a tumor that forms in cells that makes melanin but due to the body failure to natural produce the chemical melanin, a tumor instead develops. Every year, cancer takes the lives of more than half a million Americans and it is estimated that over 2 million people are diagnosed with skin cancers annually.
Cancer is the leading cause of death and skin cancer is one of the top 10. Over the last 3 decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined. Melanoma is becoming very common amongst whites who lack the production of Melanin therefore being more than 10 times more likely to develop skin cancer than African Americans and any other group who isn't fair skin, have blonde or red hair, freckles and blue or green eye.
According to Skincancer.org, one person dies from melanoma every 57 minutes, white men over the age of 50 are at a greater risk and melanoma is the most common cancer for adults ages 25-29.
People who suffer with Melanomas are strongly advised to keep from the sun UV Rays and the artificial exposure to tanning beds or tanning lamps. The signs of skin cancer and the symptoms that define melanoma is raised or what is called melanoma moles, brown spots and metastasis, which is the secondary development of the growth from the primary source of cancer that spreads from one organ to another.
Moles are usually harmless however if you have an abundance of moles you could also be at a greater risk of getting the skin cancer melanoma. If treated early melanoma can be curable but because of it's growth pattern it can be difficult to treat if not recognized prematurely.
The research of melanoma histology is the study of the microscopic structure of tissues. It is important to know the histology of a cancer to determine the type of cancer and the best treatment for the stage the skin cancer is in.
Radiation treatment depends and is offered to skin cancer patients depending on how rapid the diseases is spreading and to where the disease has spread.
Some treatments of melanoma skin cancer varies by stage. The treatment offer to you is unique and several treatments are available to you after your doctor reviews your report and medical history.
Optional treatments such as clinical trials, surgery, systemic therapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy are some options that are successful or have shown some success in the treatment of melanoma.
Stage 0 is usually melanomas that can usually be removed by surgery since it hasn't grown too deep into the epidermis. This approach consist of the removal of the melanoma and about a margin of 1/5 of an inch of the normal skin around the affected area.
Usually within Stage 1 to 3 cancer, radiation treatment, as in the total removal of where the melanomas is present, is recommended and the new treatments being tested in clinical trials are also discussed from doctor to patients.
Stage 4 melanomas are given Temodar due to the spreading from the official site to the lungs, liver and brain metastases. Temodar melanoma, is a chemo drug that is offered to patients with metastatic melanoma alone or combined with other drugs.
Because almost every part of the human organ can get affected, treatments for recurrent melanoma will usually always be discussed with patients who have the skin cancer melanoma.
If melanoma recurs, it usually comes back in the brain, liver and lungs. Melanoma that comes back in the brain can be hard to treat so routinely check ups wit your doctor is strongly advised.
On the occasion that have concerns or worse, your doctor has revealed the "C" word to you, it is imperative to remain calm until you get a second opinion or outside consultant, get further information on the form of cancer, the length of time you have had it, etc and until you have spoken to a trusted love one.
The definition of Melanoma is a tumor that forms in cells that makes melanin but due to the body failure to natural produce the chemical melanin, a tumor instead develops. Every year, cancer takes the lives of more than half a million Americans and it is estimated that over 2 million people are diagnosed with skin cancers annually.
Cancer is the leading cause of death and skin cancer is one of the top 10. Over the last 3 decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined. Melanoma is becoming very common amongst whites who lack the production of Melanin therefore being more than 10 times more likely to develop skin cancer than African Americans and any other group who isn't fair skin, have blonde or red hair, freckles and blue or green eye.
According to Skincancer.org, one person dies from melanoma every 57 minutes, white men over the age of 50 are at a greater risk and melanoma is the most common cancer for adults ages 25-29.
People who suffer with Melanomas are strongly advised to keep from the sun UV Rays and the artificial exposure to tanning beds or tanning lamps. The signs of skin cancer and the symptoms that define melanoma is raised or what is called melanoma moles, brown spots and metastasis, which is the secondary development of the growth from the primary source of cancer that spreads from one organ to another.
Moles are usually harmless however if you have an abundance of moles you could also be at a greater risk of getting the skin cancer melanoma. If treated early melanoma can be curable but because of it's growth pattern it can be difficult to treat if not recognized prematurely.
The research of melanoma histology is the study of the microscopic structure of tissues. It is important to know the histology of a cancer to determine the type of cancer and the best treatment for the stage the skin cancer is in.
Radiation treatment depends and is offered to skin cancer patients depending on how rapid the diseases is spreading and to where the disease has spread.
Some treatments of melanoma skin cancer varies by stage. The treatment offer to you is unique and several treatments are available to you after your doctor reviews your report and medical history.
Optional treatments such as clinical trials, surgery, systemic therapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy are some options that are successful or have shown some success in the treatment of melanoma.
Stage 0 is usually melanomas that can usually be removed by surgery since it hasn't grown too deep into the epidermis. This approach consist of the removal of the melanoma and about a margin of 1/5 of an inch of the normal skin around the affected area.
Usually within Stage 1 to 3 cancer, radiation treatment, as in the total removal of where the melanomas is present, is recommended and the new treatments being tested in clinical trials are also discussed from doctor to patients.
Stage 4 melanomas are given Temodar due to the spreading from the official site to the lungs, liver and brain metastases. Temodar melanoma, is a chemo drug that is offered to patients with metastatic melanoma alone or combined with other drugs.
Because almost every part of the human organ can get affected, treatments for recurrent melanoma will usually always be discussed with patients who have the skin cancer melanoma.
If melanoma recurs, it usually comes back in the brain, liver and lungs. Melanoma that comes back in the brain can be hard to treat so routinely check ups wit your doctor is strongly advised.
On the occasion that have concerns or worse, your doctor has revealed the "C" word to you, it is imperative to remain calm until you get a second opinion or outside consultant, get further information on the form of cancer, the length of time you have had it, etc and until you have spoken to a trusted love one.
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