Tag Archive for: Melanoma

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month

/in /by

 

Skin Cancer Screening at Dermatologist near Washington DC

by Laura Monaghan, PA-C

 

May brings warm weather, prom season, and spending time poolside. In the world of dermatology, May also brings Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and melanoma is the second most common form of cancer in females ages 15-29. Melanoma rates have doubled from 1982 to 2011, and on average one American dies of melanoma every hour. So, what exactly is melanoma? And what can you do about it?

What is Melanoma?

Melanoma is a form of cancer that originates in melanocytes, the cells that produce skin pigment. Damage to the cell’s DNA allows the melanocytes to grow uncontrollably. This can present as a changed mole, a new dark spot, or even a pink nodule on the skin. There are multiple factors that can increase your risk of developing melanoma, which includes:

  • Family history of melanoma 
  • Tanning bed use
  • Sun exposure 
  • Increased age 
  • More than 50 moles, large moles, or atypical moles 
  • Fair skin and light hair/eye color 
  • Personal history of melanoma or other skin cancer 
  • Personal history of other cancers 

Base Tan

Despite the popular idea of getting a “base tan” to kickstart the summer, there is no such thing as a safe tan. In fact, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, just one indoor tanning session before age 35 increases the risk of developing melanoma by 75%. The risk increases with every subsequent use.

How to prevent skin cancer

Prevention and early detection are key goals of melanoma care. This includes avoiding the sun during the highest UV index hours (10AM-4PM) and wearing SPF 30+ sunscreen, sun-protective clothing and hats, and sunglasses. Routine full-body skin exams with your dermatologist and monitoring your skin at home are also recommended for early detection. Click here to learn what to signs to look for during your skin exam.

Check out this video of Dr. Skelsey and one of her melanoma patients.

​

 

 

Sources:

American Academy of Dermatology. (2018-2020). Key Messages.

Chien, A., & Jacobe, H. (2022, July). Tanning & Your Skin. The Skin Cancer Foundation. Retrieved May 7, 2023, from https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/tanning/#:~:text=Indoor%20Tanning%20Dangers&text=increased%20risk%20of%20developing%20life,a%20sign%20of%20skin%20damage.

Indoor tanning. American Academy of Dermatology. (2021, June 21). Retrieved from https://www.aad.org/media/stats-indoor-tanning#:~:text=Using%20tanning%20beds%20before%20age,risk%20increases%20with%20each%20use.&text=Women%20younger%20than%2030%20are,melanoma%20if%20they%20tan%20indoors

R-lower-eyelid-BCC-845x321

What do Eyes Have to do With It?

/in , /by

R-lower-eyelid-BCC-845x321

You might not think of an eye exam as part of your annual skin check visit to the dermatologist, but there are several serious conditions, including cancers of the eyelids, that can be easily missed without a thorough examination. Your annual skin check should include a visualization of the upper and lower eyelids for tumors, assessment of hair distribution along the lash line to check for alopecia, as well as evaluation of eye symptoms, such as eye irritation or a gritty sensation, which can be associated with skin conditions like rosacea.

If a suspicious skin growth is found on or near the eyelid region, a biopsy should be performed to determine the type of lesion present. The most common malignant growths of the eye area are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Other less common types of eyelid cancers are sebaceous carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and intraocular melanoma. Risk factors for eyelid skin cancers include fair skin (blue eyes and red or blonde hair), immunosuppression, and history of previous radiation to the face.

Types of eyelid skin cancers

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): The eyelid skin is extremely vulnerable to damage from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, making non-melanoma skin cancers, like BCC, quite common. While BCCs rarely spread to the bloodstream, they can grow large and cause disfigurement and sometimes even loss of the eye; this necessitates prompt removal with Mohs surgery, which is sometimes performed in consultation with an oculoplastic surgeon. To prevent BCCs of the eyelids, I recommend that you wear UV blocking sunglasses and don a hat — the wider the brim the better. And of course, always wear sunscreen. Stick Sunscreens for sensitive skin are generally well-tolerated around the eyes.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): SCCs make up a smaller portion of eyelid cancers, but have a slightly higher risk of metastasis than BCCs. Prevention and treatment of eyelid SCC is similar to BCC.

Melanoma: Intraocular melanoma is the most common type of cancer that can develop within the eye in adults, yet it is still very rare. It can be found in the back of the eye in the pigmented layer of the eyeball, known as the uvea. This area is not visible to eye doctors during a regular eye exam, therefore it is crucial for individuals with a personal or strong family history of melanoma to undergo yearly dilated eye exams with an ophthalmologist. It is unclear how intraocular melanoma develops, although there are individuals who are genetically predisposed. Anyone with light hair and eye color is at a higher risk of developing eye melanoma, as are welders — either through increased occupational ultraviolet radiation exposure or other environmental causes. Melanoma is a serious diagnosis due to its ability to spread to the bloodstream and other organs. Treatment of intraocular melanoma may include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Bottom line: Check your eyelids for new growths and protect your eyes from UV exposure. Your eyes are not impervious to skin cancer!

 

 

 

References

Bain, J. (September 25, 2018). Focus on Eyelid Skin Cancers: Early Detection and Treatment. The Skin Cancer Foundation. Available online at: https://www.skincancer.org/blog/eyelid-skin-cancers/

Katella, K. (July 24, 2018). For Eye Cancer, Exams are Crucial. Yale Medicine. Available online at: https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/eye-cancer-prevention/

Mayo Clinic Staff (September 18, 2018). Eye Melanoma. Available online at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eye-melanoma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372376.

Immunotherapy for Melanoma

/in , /by

Melanoma is by far the deadliest skin cancer but recent advances in cancer treatment have significantly improved the prognosis.  More than one million Americans are living with melanoma. It is estimated that 91,270 invasive melanoma cases will be diagnosed in 2018, with invasive melanoma projected to become the fifth most common cancer in men and the sixth most common cancer in women in 2018.[1]

Melanoma is more likely than most cancers to spread to the brain, and once it gets there, fewer than 20 percent of patients survive within one year with traditional treatments.[2]  However, newer options utilizing the body’s own immune system hold promise for helping patients with advanced-stage melanoma.  You may have read about the recent Nobel Prize winner, Jim Allison from MD Anderson Cancer Center.  His discoveries laid the ground-work for a life-saving new treatment for melanoma.

Immunotherapy works by harnessing the body’s own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells more effectively. Within our immune system, there are regulatory molecules called immune checkpoints, which work to keep the immune system in a balanced state (homeostasis). Tumors from cancers like melanoma take advantage of this regulatory mechanism to avoid being eliminated by the immune system. [3]

A specific group of immunotherapy drugs, called checkpoint inhibitors, work by inhibiting these immune checkpoints to release the brakes and unleash a much stronger immune response to the tumor. While these drugs do not help everyone, they have demonstrated excellent results thus far and are an important part of the initial treatment plan for patients with advanced melanoma.

 

 

[1] American Academy of Dermatology. Skin Cancer; Incidence Rates. Available online at: https://www.aad.org/media/stats/conditions/skin-cancer.
[2] Grady, Denise (Aug 22, 2018). Immunotherapy Drugs Slow Skin Cancer That Has Spread To The Brain. The New York Times; A16.
[3] Grady, Denise (Aug 22, 2018). Immunotherapy Drugs Slow Skin Cancer That Has Spread To The Brain. The New York Times; A16.

what-is-your-skin-cancer-iq

Test your skin cancer IQ

/in , /by

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and it is estimated that one in five Americans will develop this condition in their lifetime. Skin cancer is triggered by mutations or defects in DNA, leading to cells growing out of control to form malignant tumors.

Read more
bride on beach

A Breakthrough In Melanoma Detection

/in , /by

Are you reluctant to undergo a skin biopsy because of the potential for a scar? We have good news. There is a new, non-invasive melanoma detection method to check suspicious dark moles. Read the story below by Dr. Maral Skelsey and learn more about DermTech, a “bladeless biopsy.”

Catch More, Cut Less. A Breakthrough In Melanoma Detection

melanoma

Amelanotic Melanoma: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

/in , /by

melanomaA patient recently came to the office concerned about a new dark mole on her leg. During her full body skin examination, I noticed a pink bump on her back.  I asked her about it and she said it was a bug bite that was taking a long time to heal.  Because of the appearance of the lesion when I examined it with a dermatoscope, I recommended a biopsy. Unfortunately, the pink spot on her back turned out to be a melanoma. The mole on her leg was benign.

 

Most patients are concerned when they spot a new dark mole, but it’s not widely recognized that melanoma can present as a pink or colorless skin lesion. Amelanotic melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer where the cells do not make melanin or pigment. It is responsible for approximately 2-20% of melanoma cases1. Because of their lack of color, diagnosis of this type of melanoma may be delayed until it reaches an advanced stage.

Symptoms

One of the most obvious symptoms of amelanotic melanoma is the sudden appearance of a red, pink, or skin-colored spot on your body where it wasn’t before. Melanomas also grow and may change shape, becoming a larger bump over time. Amelanotic melanoma may not present with the classic ABCD criteria (Asymmetry, Border Irregularity, Color variation, and Large Diameter) that are typically associated with melanoma warning signs. Expanding the ABCD warning signs to include the 3 Rs (Red, Raised, Recent change) may help in the early detection of amelanotic melanoma2. It is also estimated that about 25% of melanomas of the nail are amelanotic, so checking your nails should be a regular part of self-skin examinations. It is important to note that melanoma may present differently in individuals of color, therefore regular self-skin examinations are essential in the early detection of these skin cancers.

Causes

Melanoma occurs when the DNA in your skin cells becomes damaged, which can cause the cells to grow out of control and become cancerous. Exposure to the sun for long periods of time can damage your skin cells and increase your risk for melanoma. This risk is increased in patients with fairer skin, individuals of European descent, those with many moles (especially 50 or more), a family history of melanoma, and patients with a weakened immune system from an existing condition3. The use of tanning beds has also been associated with an increased risk for melanoma and should be avoided4.

Treatment

The most common treatment for melanoma is surgical removal.  However, melanoma can spread to the lymph nodes, necessitating the removal of one or more nodes. Advanced melanoma may need to be treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation. Biological therapy (or drugs that aid your immune system in killing cancer cells) as well as targeted therapy (medications that weaken cancer cells) are other common melanoma therapies. Patients with a history of a previous melanoma are 4 times more likely than the general population to develop a subsequent invasive melanoma, therefore full body skin examinations should be performed by a dermatologist every 3 months after a melanoma diagnosis.

 

References:
1.         Thomas, N.E., Kricker, A., & Waxweiler, W. Comparison of Clinicopathologic Features and Survival of Histopathologically Amelanotic and Pigmented Melanomas: A Population-Based Study. JAMA Dermatol. 2014;150(12):1306-1314. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2014.1348
2.         Kim, S.J., Park, H.J., Lee, J.Y., Cho, B.K., A Case of Subungual Melanoma. Ann Dermatol. 2008 Mar; 20(1): 26–28. Published online 2008 Mar 31. doi:  10.5021/ad.2008.20.1.26
3.         American Cancer Society. Risk Factors for Melanoma Skin Cancer. Available online at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/melanoma-skin-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
4.         American Academy of Dermatology. Indoor Tanning. Available online at: https://www.aad.org/media/stats/prevention-and-care