Dr. Garyfalia Karponi
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It mainly develops from cells that produce the pigment that gives skin its colour, known as melanin. It usually appears as a spot on the skin or may develop on a pre-existing mole, or naevus.
Epidemiological data from 2020 report 325,000 new cases of melanoma worldwide, while approximately 57,000 people died from the disease. In Greece, melanoma is the 14th most common malignant neoplasm, with 1,313 new cases of melanoma reported in 2020.
Did you know that…
♦ The risk of melanoma increases with age. However, melanoma can also occur in people under the age of 30, and it is the second most common cancer in people aged 15–34.
♦ Men are at greater risk of developing melanoma. Factors such as greater sun exposure and less protection from the sun, as well as thicker skin with less subcutaneous fat compared with women, act as additional aggravating factors.
Risk factors
◊ Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation, or UV, whether from the sun or from artificial tanning lamps, such as solariums.
◊ Fair skin. The presence of less melanin in fair skin means less protection from ultraviolet radiation. However, melanoma can also develop in darker skin.
◊ History of sunburn.
◊ Living near the equator, where the sun’s rays are more vertical, or at higher altitude, where the atmosphere is thinner and therefore provides less protection from ultraviolet radiation.
◊ Presence of many or unusual moles.
◊ Family history of melanoma.
◊ Weakened immune system.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of melanoma is made by a specialised physician, such as a dermatologist, surgeon or oncologist, and is based on the ABCDE guide:
- Asymmetry
- Border
- Color
- Diameter
- Evolving
Prevention measures
Early diagnosis of melanoma and new treatments have led to excellent therapeutic outcomes, with a 5-year survival rate of more than 90%.
⇒ Protect yourself from ultraviolet rays all year round, as they can reach us through reflection from surfaces such as water and concrete.
⇒ Stay in the shade as much as possible.
⇒ Choose clothing that covers arms and legs as much as possible.
⇒ Wear a hat.
⇒ Wear sunglasses with appropriate lenses that block UVA and UVB rays.
⇒ Use sunscreen daily with an appropriate ultraviolet protection factor, greater than SPF 15 and ideally above SPF 30.
⇒ Avoid artificial tanning.
Treatment
Because melanoma can appear in various forms and may have different effects on each individual, treatment must be personalized in order to be effective. Personalized treatment may include various methods, such as surgical removal of the tumor, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The choice of the appropriate treatment depends on many factors, including the stage of melanoma, its location, the patient’s age and their general condition.
In recent years, it has been shown that melanoma may carry alterations, or mutations, in a group of specific genes. Specific therapies are available against these genomic alterations. This way, multiplication of cancer cells is limited, or a more effective immunological, defensive response of the body against cancer is ensured.
If you have melanoma and molecular testing has been recommended to you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Remember:
🙁 Any change in skin colour after exposure to ultraviolet radiation is a sign of injury, not health.
🙂 Visit your dermatologist regularly, and also whenever changes in your skin are noticed.
Based on data from the Hellenic Public Health Organization (HPHO), 2023.
Garyfalia Karponi, MSc, PhD
Molecular Biologist-Geneticist
Chief Scientific Officer, Department of Molecular Diagnostics