2006-09-27 10:20:12 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Malignant melanomas are generally caused by prolonged exposure to the sun, if you're worried you can measure the size and take note of the shape of any worrying moles, or else see your GP.
2006-09-27 10:25:52 · answer #1 · answered by Phion 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A number of environmental and hereditary factors seem to affect a person's risk for melanoma.
People with light complexions -- particularly those who have had excessive exposure to sunlight -- are at higher-than-average risk for melanoma. People with dark skin, however, are not immune.
Severe, blistering sunburns at any time in life can increase risk for melanoma. Sunburns are an indication of the wrong kind of sun exposure -- the intermittent or sporadic "blast" of high levels of sun, such as that received at noon on the beach.
Anyone who has a family history of melanoma (one or more relatives who have had the disease) is at a higher-than-average risk for melanoma. In families that have a history of melanoma, skin examinations to look for abnormalities should begin before age 10. Dysplastic nevi, the atypical moles that sometimes precede melanoma, also tend to run in families.
People with weakened immune systems -- such as AIDS patients, organ transplant patients on immunosuppressive drugs, and patients with certain cancers -- have a higher than average risk for melanoma. Also, people with xeroderma pigmentosum (a rare inherited skin condition associated with defective repair of DNA caused by UV radiation) have a high risk for melanoma and other skin cancers on exposed areas of the skin.
2006-09-27 10:29:01 · answer #2 · answered by Vivax 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Melanoma is a dangerous spreading tumor that begins as melanocyte. Melanocyte is similar to the nerve cells that function in your brain, they produce melanin in your skin your body produces more with long-term exposure. Melinoma is deadly because it can spread quickly to other parts of your body. It first appears as a mole that has changed in shape, color, sensitivity, and size, or as newly formed moles. It is usually asymmetrical (or irregularly shaped), has uneven borders, mixed colors and a diameter bigger than one-quarter of an inch, or a little bigger than the size of a pencil eraser. If you have or notice anything like this get to a doctor immediatly and have it checked out.
Hope this helps.
2006-09-27 10:37:05 · answer #3 · answered by peanut 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Melanomas are skin cancers characterized by dark pigmentation. Cancer has numerous causes. Check out How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine by Mike Murray for a complete discussion of this disease and a lot of good advice on how to deal with it.
Good luck!
2006-09-27 10:30:37 · answer #4 · answered by Mad Roy 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Staying out in the sun too long.
2006-09-27 10:25:16 · answer #5 · answered by shai 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one knows.
2006-09-27 10:22:50 · answer #6 · answered by Dave 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋