Malignant melanoma: symptoms
The earlier the dangerous black skin cancer is treated, the easier it is to cure. But how can you recognize malignant melanoma? It’s not that easy, because malignant melanoma is very diverse. Doctors differentiate between four main types of melanoma based on their appearance and histological characteristics:
- Superficial spreading melanoma (approx. 60 percent of all melanoma cases)
- Nodular melanoma (approx. 20 percent of all melanoma cases)
- Lentigo maligna melanoma (approx. 10 percent of all melanoma cases)
- Acrolentiginous melanoma (approx. 5 percent of all melanoma cases)
The remaining approximately five percent of all melanoma cases are rarer forms:
- Amelanotic melanoma
- Mucosal melanoma
- Choroidal melanoma
- Unclassifiable malignant melanoma
You can find out what the most common types of melanoma look like under Skin cancer: Symptoms.
In men, malignant melanoma often develops on the torso (for example on the back), whereas in women it tends to develop on the arms and legs. However, malignant melanoma can develop anywhere on the body, not just on sun-exposed areas. For example, the malignant skin tumor is sometimes found in the genital area, on the hairy scalp, on the soles of the feet or underneath a fingernail or toenail.
A malignant melanoma usually develops on previously inconspicuous skin. Newly formed “dark spots” on the skin should therefore be closely monitored and, if in doubt, should be seen by a dermatologist immediately.
The so-called ABCDE rule helps in the assessment of newly formed or already congenital skin spots.
Malignant melanoma: treatment
How a malignant melanoma is treated in individual cases depends, among other things, on the stage of the tumor. In all cases, however, the tumor is completely removed surgically if possible, with a safety margin of one to two centimetres. This means that the surgeon cuts into the healthy tissue so that as few cancer cells as possible are left behind.
Another treatment option for malignant melanoma is immunotherapy: after all visible cancerous growths have been surgically removed, the patient is given medication that activates certain immune cells (killer cells) so that they eliminate any remaining cancer cells. For example, the active substance interferon-alpha can be injected for this purpose (interferon therapy).
Another treatment option is chemotherapy: this is considered if immune or targeted therapies are not an option because the patient does not respond to them.
You can read more about the treatment options for malignant melanoma under Skin cancer: Treatment.
Malignant melanoma: chances of cure
Thanks to improved early detection, the prognosis for malignant melanoma has improved significantly in recent decades. Today, malignant melanoma is usually detected at a very early stage. It is then almost always curable. However, as the size and spread of the tumor progresses, the chances of recovery decrease rapidly. If metastases have already spread to the lungs, liver or brain, the prognosis for malignant melanoma is very poor.
The chances of recovery from malignant melanoma also depend on other factors, such as the patient’s age and general state of health.
Black skin cancer: life expectancy
Around two thirds of all melanomas are detected so early that they can be surgically removed and those affected are considered cured. Five years after being diagnosed with malignant melanoma, 93 percent of women and 91 percent of men are still alive. So much for the statistics. In individual cases, the life expectancy of a melanoma patient may be higher or lower. For example, if a malignant melanoma has already metastasized to the lungs or brain, patients can die within months without treatment.
