Abstract

A REVIEW ARTICLE ON MELANOMA: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

*Sakshi Milind Chindarkar and Nisha Karandikar

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Abstract

Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer. Melanoma, also redundantly known as malignant melanoma. In approximately the 5th century BC, Hippocrates was the first to record a description of melanoma, which he described as melas, meaning dark, and oma, meaning tumor, in Greek. Is the type of skin cancer that develops from the pigment producing cells known as melanocytes. Melanoma begins when healthy melanocytes changes and grow out of control, forming a cancerous tumor. Melanoma can grow quickly. It can becomes lifethreatening in as little as six weeks, and if untreated, it can spread to the parts of the body. In women they most commonly occur on the legs, while in men the most commonly occur on the back. Ultraviolet radiation is the main environmental factor that increase the risk of developing melanoma. It damage the DNA of your skin cells and they start to grow out of control. Exposure during childhood is a more risk factor than exposure in adulthood. Melanoma is relatively rare in people with darker skin. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2000 the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with melanoma will be approximately 1 in 75. Compare this with the lifetime risk in 1980, 1 in 250. So in this Malignant melanoma review article we will see new treatment/ therapy and self- helping techniques for patients.

Keywords: Malignant melanoma, Life-threatening, Cancerous tumor, Treatment.