
Cutaneous melanoma, also called malignant melanoma, is the type of skin cancer that is most likely to spread to other parts of the body. Though melanoma accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers, it is responsible for more than 90% of skin cancer-related deaths.
But thanks to developments in skin cancer treatment (mostly in the last decade), patients with melanoma have much better chances of living longer.
What is melanoma?

There are many factors that may result in the development of melanomas. These include environmental factors such as sun damage or use of tanning beds; immune suppression; genetic causes, such as inheritance of a gene that makes you more susceptible to melanomas; and spontaneous gene mutations.
Treatment options: The old and the new

Thanks to significant developments in genetic research, including findings from the Human Genome Project, patients with the widespread disease now have a much better chance of survival. For example, research shows that some melanomas have mutations that abnormally activate certain signaling pathways, which contribute to uncontrolled tumor growth, which has led to advances in targeted immunotherapy.
Newer therapies targeting these pathways, and immune checkpoint inhibitors that block specific targets in tumor production pathways, are now available to treat advanced melanoma. These include kinase inhibitors such as dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and vemurafenib (Zelboraf), and immune checkpoint inhibitors such as nivolumab (Opdivo), pembrolizumab (Keytruda), and ipilimumab (Yervoy).
A study examining one of these newer therapies showed that at three years after treatment, the survival rate for people who were treated with the checkpoint inhibitor ipilimumab along with the older chemotherapy drug dacarbazine was 21%, compared to 12% for those who were treated with only dacarbazine.
Another potential therapy receiving more attention now includes cancer vaccines. In addition, some companies have introduced enhanced testing of biopsy samples, which may allow for a more accurate assessment of a person’s risk of cancer spreading and recurring, which in turn can influence treatment decisions. Many more possibilities are also on the horizon.
Prevention still worth more than the cure

Simple healthy behaviors can help. These include routinely wearing (and re-applying) sunscreen, avoiding the sun during hours of peak sunlight (around 10 am to 2 pm), and making sure your doctor conducts routine skin checks.
It’s also important to know your own skin. Examine your own skin every month or so, and have a partner examine the areas of skin you can’t see. Look out for the “ugly duckling” (a mole that looks different from the others). The so-called ABCDEs of melanoma have their limitations (they don’t catch all melanomas), but can also help when conducting skin checks on yourself or a loved one. That means being on the lookout for
A: Asymmetry (one side looks different from another)
B: irregular Borders
C: Color differences
D: Diameter (often greater than 6 millimeters)
E: Evolution (a mole that appears to be changing over time).
If you notice anything unusual, seek advice from your doctor.
In general, the earlier you catch skin cancer, the better your prognosis.
Source: Harvard Health Blog.
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