Melanoma is yet another type of cancer. It begins in the melanocytes; this is the cells that make the pigment melanin. Melanoma can start from different parts of your body with pigmented tissues such as the eye, intestines, and other areas. Its first sign is the visual and felt change of your already existing mole. It can be Melanoma if your mole has drastically changed shape, size, color, or feel. Not only that, but Melanoma may also emerge as a brand new mole. The only way to diagnose melanoma is to remove the tissue and check it for harmful cancer cells. That is why it is highly crucial to immediately tell your doctor if you notice changes on your skin.
Just like all cancers known today, continuous research is still needed to trace the exact cause of Melanoma. It has four stages of severity and has four distinct types. They are the Superficial Spreading Melanoma, Nodular Melanoma, Lentigo Maligna Melanoma, and Acral Lentiginous Melanoma. The World Health Organization has a rough estimate of 60,000 deaths per year worldwide due to people’s disproportionate exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. And 48,000 of that number of deaths are because of malignant Melanoma.
Learn more about Melanoma here: its four stages, its cause, and how it can be prevented.
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