Melanoma on the leg. Diagnosis of melanoma at the initial stage, symptoms and treatment of a malignant neoplasm

The feet are dangerous tumors located on the legs and causing a lot of discomfort. They occur due to certain changes and increased production of melanin. The anatomical and functional characteristics of the feet are so unique that they put forward the important task of closing defects after the necessary excision of the tumor in melanomas. The complexity of any plastic surgery and other reconstructive procedures in this area is due to various age-related disorders.

It is believed that this type of disease is provoked by an unhealthy lifestyle and poor ecology. One of the most common skin diseases of the feet is not only mycosis and athlete's foot, but also melanoma. This tumor is an unusual neoplasm of a dark brown hue of a malignant nature. After the first appearances on the feet, such melanoma can spread throughout the body, causing severe pain.

Recurrent melanomas on the legs are always treated with specially selected chemotherapy. The share of such malignant tumors, which develop on the legs from melanocytic cells, accounts for approximately 50% of cases. They usually arise from ordinary benign formations. Not a single person is immune from the accumulation of melanocytes. There are cases when melanoma was formed from a single melanocyte. Such an insidious disease occurs under the influence of various injuries, burns and a large amount of ultraviolet radiation.

It has been proven that during pregnancy and menopause, the hormonal background changes significantly, which triggers the rebirth of ordinary moles. However, it should be noted that these factors only trigger the mechanism that is already initially laid down at the genetic level in the human body.

Melanoma foot is the most aggressive of malignant tumors. It is capable of forming metastases, after the appearance of which it is considered practically incurable. To prevent the presented disease, it is necessary to constantly monitor the existing moles and age spots on the legs.

This form of cancer, even if small in size, is extremely dangerous for human life. Within a few months, such neoplasms can affect many internal organs of a person. In the early stages of diagnosis, removing melanoma on the feet is not difficult. If a tumor exceeds more than 1 cm and has uneven staining with asymmetric edges, a special complex treatment is selected, including, in addition to surgery, chemotherapy sessions.

Symptoms of melanoma of the legs

The main criteria in the diagnosis of age spots can be noted the rapid growth of new newly appeared formations, changes in the size and structure of the old mole on the leg. Also, an undoubted sign of the formation of melanoma is the darkening of the tumor and the formation of black blotches in it.

Additional symptoms are the appearance of an extensive area of inflammation along the entire edge of the pigment spot on the leg, as well as severe itching and bleeding of the formation on the skin. Often this disease often affects women's feet. The sooner a doctor makes a diagnosis, the greater the chance of successful treatment. Treatment of superficial melanomas on the legs without convex parts does not cause any particular difficulties.

Knobby tumors, slightly raised above the skin, have a more aggressive form. They occur in approximately 15% of patients. Often there is subungual melanoma on the toes. In most cases, it is diagnosed on the big toes. For an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to determine the thickness of the melanoma cells. This indicator is calculated with a certain histological examination of tissue samples taken.

With this indicator less than 1 mm, often tumor considered non-cancerous, which does not require rapid removal of the pigment spot. If this indicator is higher than 1 mm, then mandatory removal of the tumor is recommended.

Causes of foot melanoma

The main reason for the development of melanoma of the legs is solar radiation. However, there are cases when the presence of specific predisposing factors played an equally important role in the occurrence of such formations. These factors include the presence of atypical nevi, a lot of freckles on the face, light sensitive skin, as well as various benign neoplasms in the body.

Prevention of melanoma of the legs

For preventive purposes, all people are advised to significantly limit exposure to the sun, and when working on sunny days in open areas, use light-colored cotton clothing to protect against melanoma of the feet. Also, experts advise regularly inspecting the surface of the legs to identify possible changes in moles and age spots.

Melanoma is considered one of the most insidious malignant human tumors, the incidence and mortality from which is steadily increasing from year to year. They talk about it on TV, write in magazines and the Internet. The interest of the inhabitants is due to the fact that the tumor is increasingly being detected in residents of various countries, and the number of deaths is still high, even despite intensive treatment.

In terms of prevalence, melanoma lags far behind epithelial skin tumors (squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, etc.), according to various sources, accounting for 1.5 to 3% of cases, but it is much more dangerous. Over 50 years of the last century, the incidence increased by 600%. This figure is enough to seriously fear the disease and look for the causes and methods of its treatment.

What it is?

Melanoma is a malignant tumor that develops from melanocytes - pigment cells that produce melanins. Along with squamous cell and basal cell skin cancer, it belongs to malignant tumors of the skin. It is mainly localized in the skin, less often in the retina, mucous membranes (oral cavity, vagina, rectum).

One of the most dangerous malignant human tumors, often relapsing and metastasizing through the lymphogenous and hematogenous routes to almost all organs. A feature is a weak response of the body or its absence, which is why melanoma often progresses rapidly.

Causes

Let's deal with the main reasons for the development of melanoma:

Prolonged and frequent exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin. Especially dangerous is the sun at its zenith. This also includes exposure to artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation (tanning beds, bactericidal lamps, and others).
Traumatic lesions of age spots, nevi, especially in those places where they are in constant contact with clothing and other environmental factors.
Traumatic lesions of moles.

From moles or nevi, melanoma develops in 60% of cases. That's enough. The main places where melanomas develop are such parts of the body as: head; neck; arms; legs; back; breast; palms; soles; scrotum.

People who have more than one of the following risk factors are most at risk for melanoma:

A history of sunburn.
The presence in the genus of skin diseases, skin cancer, melanoma.
Genetically determined red hair color, the presence of freckles and also fair skin.
Light, almost white skin, due to genetic characteristics, a low content of melanin pigment in the skin.
The presence on the body of age spots, nevi. But, if hair grows on a nevus, then this area of \u200b\u200bthe skin cannot degenerate into a malignant form.
The presence of a large number of moles on the body. It is believed that if there are more than 50 moles, then this can already be dangerous.
Older age, but recently melanoma is increasingly common in young people.
The presence of skin diseases that can trigger the development of melanoma. These are diseases such as Dubrey's melanosis, xeroderma pigmentosa and some others.

If a person belongs to any group from the above list, then he should already be very careful in the sun and attentive to his health, since he has a rather high probability of developing melanoma.

Statistics

In 2000, more than 200,000 cases of melanoma were diagnosed and 65,000 melanoma-related deaths occurred worldwide, according to WHO.

In the period from 1998 to 2008, the increase in the incidence of melanoma in the Russian Federation was 38.17%, and the standardized incidence rate increased from 4.04 to 5.46 per 100,000 population. In 2008, the number of new cases of skin melanoma in the Russian Federation was 7744. The death rate from melanoma in the Russian Federation in 2008 was 3159 people, and the standardized mortality rate was 2.23 people per 100,000 population. The average age of patients with melanoma diagnosed for the first time in life in 2008 in the Russian Federation was 58.7 years. The highest incidence was noted at the age of 75-84 years.

In 2005, the US reported 59,580 new cases of melanoma and 7,700 deaths due to this tumor. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program notes that the incidence of melanoma increased by 600% from 1950 to 2000.

Clinical types

In fact, there are a considerable number of melanomas, including blood melanoma, nail melanoma, lung melanoma, choroid melanoma, pigmentless melanoma and others that develop over time in different parts of the human body due to the course of the disease and metastasis, but in medicine the following are distinguished, main types of melanomas:

Superficial or superficial melanoma. This is a more common type of tumor (70%). The course of the disease is characterized by a long, relatively benign growth in the outer layer of the skin. With this type of melanoma, a spot with jagged edges appears, the color of which can change: become brown, like a tan, red, black, blue, or even white.
Nodular (nodular) melanoma is in second place in the number of diagnosed patients (15-30% of cases). Most common in people over 50 years of age. It can form anywhere on the body. But, as a rule, such tumors appear in women - on the lower extremities, in men - on the body. Often nodular melanoma is formed against the background of a nevus. It is characterized by vertical growth and aggressive development. Develops in 6-18 months. This type of tumor has a round or oval shape. Patients often see a doctor when the melanoma has already taken the form of a black or black-blue plaque that has clear boundaries and raised edges. In some cases, nodular melanoma grows to a large size, or takes the form of a polyp that has ulcerations and is characterized by hyperactivity.
Lentiginous melanoma. This form of the disease is also known as lentigo maligna or Hutchinson's freckle. Most often it is formed from a senile pigment spot, a birthmark, less often from an ordinary mole. This type of tumor is prone to formation in those parts of the body that are most exposed to solar ultraviolet radiation, such as the face, ears, neck, and hands. This melanoma develops in most ill people very slowly, sometimes it can take up to 30 years to the last stage of its development. Metastasis is rare, and there is evidence of resorption of this formation, so lentiginous melanoma is considered the most favorable skin cancer in terms of prognosis.
Malignant lentigo is similar to superficial melanoma. Development is long, in the upper layers of the skin. In this case, the affected area of the skin is flat or slightly raised, unevenly colored. The color of such a spot is patterned with brown and dark brown components. Such melanoma often occurs in older people due to constant exposure to sunlight. Lesions appear on the face, ears, arms, and upper torso.

melanoma symptoms

At the initial stage of the development of a malignant tumor on healthy skin, and even more so against the background of a nevus, there are few obvious visual differences between them. Benign birthmarks are characterized by:

Symmetrical shape.
Smooth smooth outlines.
Uniform pigmentation, giving the formation a color from yellow to brown and even sometimes black.
A flat surface that is flush with the surface of the surrounding skin or slightly evenly elevated above it.
No increase in size or little growth for a long time.

The main symptoms of melanoma are as follows:

Hair loss from the surface of the nevus is due to the degeneration of melanocytes into tumor cells and the destruction of hair follicles.
Itching, burning and tingling in the area of pigmentation is due to increased cell division inside it.
The appearance of ulcers and / or cracks, bleeding or moisture is due to the fact that the tumor destroys normal skin cells. Therefore, the top layer bursts, exposing the lower layers of the skin. As a result, at the slightest injury, the tumor "explodes", and its contents are poured out. In this case, cancer cells enter healthy skin, invading it.
An increase in size indicates increased cell division inside the pigmented formation.
Roughness of the edges and compaction of the mole is a sign of increased division of tumor cells, as well as their germination into healthy skin.
The appearance of "daughter" moles or "satellites" near the main pigmented formation is a sign of local metastasis of tumor cells.
The appearance around the pigmented formation of redness in the form of a corolla is inflammation, indicating that the immune system has recognized tumor cells. Therefore, she sent special substances (interleukins, interferons, and others) to the tumor focus, which are designed to fight cancer cells.
The disappearance of the skin pattern is caused by the fact that the tumor destroys the normal skin cells that form the skin pattern.
Signs of eye damage: dark patches appear on the iris of the eye, visual disturbances and signs of inflammation (redness), there are pains in the affected eye.
Color change:

1) Strengthening or the appearance of darker areas on the pigment formation is due to the fact that the melanocyte, degenerating into a tumor cell, loses its processes. Therefore, the pigment, not being able to exit the cell, accumulates.

2) Enlightenment is due to the fact that the pigment cell loses its ability to produce melanin.

Each "birthmark" goes through the following stages of development:

Border nevus, which is a spotted formation, the nests of cells of which are located in the epidermal layer.
Mixed nevus - cell nests migrate into the dermis over the entire spot area; clinically, such an element is a papular formation.
Intradermal nevus - formation cells completely disappear from the epidermal layer and remain only in the dermis; Gradually, the formation loses pigmentation and undergoes reverse development (involution).

stages

The course of melanoma is determined by a specific stage, which corresponds to the patient's condition at a particular moment, there are five in total: stage zero, stages I, II, III and IV. The zero stage makes it possible to identify tumor cells exclusively within the outer cell layer; their germination to deep-lying tissues does not occur at this stage.

melanoma in its early stages. Treatment consists of local excision of the tumor within normal, healthy tissue. The total amount of healthy skin to be removed depends on the depth of penetration of the disease. Removal of lymph nodes near melanoma does not increase the survival rate of people with stage I melanoma who become ill;
2 stage. In addition to excision of the formation, a biopsy of regional lymph nodes is performed. If during the analysis of the sample a malignant process is confirmed, then the entire group of lymph nodes in this area is removed. Additionally, for the purpose of prevention, alpha-interferons can be prescribed.
3 stage. In addition to the tumor, all lymph nodes that are located nearby are excised. If there are several melanomas, all of them must be removed. Radiation therapy is performed in the affected area, immunotherapy and chemotherapy are also prescribed. As we have already noted, relapses of the disease are not excluded even with correctly defined and carried out treatment. The pathological process can return both to the area that was previously affected, and form in that part of the body that was not related to the previous course of the process.
4 stage. At this stage, patients with melanoma cannot be completely cured. With the help of surgical operations, large tumors that cause extremely unpleasant symptoms are removed. It is extremely rare that metastases are removed from organs, but this directly depends on their location and symptoms. Often in this case, chemotherapy, immunotherapy is used. The prognosis at this stage of the disease is extremely disappointing and, on average, is up to six months of the life of people who have fallen ill with melanoma and have reached this stage. In rare cases, people diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma live for several more years.

The main complication of melanoma is the spread of the pathological process with the help of metastases.

Postoperative complications include the appearance of signs of infection, changes in the postoperative incision (edema, bleeding, discharge) and pain. At the site of the removed melanoma or on healthy skin, a new mole may develop or discoloration of the integument may occur.

Metastasis

Malignant melanoma is prone to fairly pronounced metastasis, not only by the lymphogenous route, but also by the hematogenous route. Predominantly affected, as we have already noted, are the brain, liver, lungs, heart. In addition, dissemination (spread) of tumor nodes along the skin of the trunk or limb often occurs.

The option is not excluded, in which the patient seeks the help of a specialist solely on the basis of an actual increase in the lymph nodes of any area. Meanwhile, a thorough questioning in such a case can determine that a certain time ago, for example, he, as an achievement of an appropriate cosmetic effect, removed the wart. Such a “wart” actually turned out to be melanoma, which is subsequently confirmed by the results of a histological examination of the lymph nodes.

What does melanoma look like, photo

The photo below shows how the disease manifests itself in a person in the initial and other stages.

Melanoma may appear as a flat pigmented or non-pigmented spot with a slight elevation, round, polygonal, oval or irregular in shape with a diameter of more than 6 mm. It can maintain a smooth, shiny surface for a long time, on which small ulcerations, irregularities, and bleeding occur in the future with minor trauma.

Pigmentation is often uneven, but more intense in the central part, sometimes with a characteristic black rim around the base. The color of the entire neoplasm can be brown, black with a bluish tint, purple, motley in the form of individual unevenly distributed spots.

Diagnostics

A doctor can suspect melanoma based on the patient's complaints and visual examination of the altered skin. To confirm the diagnosis is carried out:

Dermatoscopy - examination of a skin area under a special device. This examination helps to examine the edges of the spot, its germination in the epidermis, internal inclusions.
Biopsy - taking a sample of the tumor for histological examination.
Ultrasound and computed tomography are prescribed to detect metastases and to determine the stage of cancer.

If necessary, and to exclude other skin diseases, the doctor may prescribe a number of diagnostic procedures and blood tests. The effectiveness of their elimination largely depends on the accuracy of diagnosing melanomas.

How to treat melanoma?

In the initial stage of melanoma, surgical excision of the tumor is mandatory. It can be economical, with the removal of no more than 2 cm of skin from the edge of the melanoma, or wide, with resection of the skin up to 5 cm around the border of the neoplasm. There is no single standard in the surgical treatment of stage I and II melanoma in this regard. A wide excision of melanoma guarantees a more complete removal of the tumor focus, but at the same time it can be the cause of cancer recurrence at the site of a scar or a transplanted skin flap. The type of surgical treatment for melanoma depends on the type and location of the tumor, as well as the decision of the patient.

Part of the combined treatment of melanoma is preoperative radiation therapy. It is prescribed in the presence of ulceration on the tumor, bleeding and inflammation in the area of the neoplasm. Local radiation therapy suppresses the biological activity of malignant cells and creates favorable conditions for the surgical treatment of melanoma.

Radiation therapy is rarely used as an independent treatment for melanoma. And in the preoperative period of melanoma treatment, its use has become common practice, since excision of the tumor can be carried out literally the next day after the end of the course of radiation therapy. The interval for recovery of the body between two types of treatment for symptoms of melanoma of the skin is usually not maintained.

Forecast for life

The prognosis for melanoma depends on the time of detection and the degree of progression of the tumor. When detected early, most melanomas respond well to treatment.

Deeply germinated melanoma, or spread to the lymph nodes, increases the risk of re-development after treatment. If the depth of the lesion exceeds 4 mm or there is a focus in the lymph node, then there is a high probability of metastasis to other organs and tissues. With the appearance of secondary foci (stages 3 and 4), the treatment of melanoma becomes ineffective.

Survival rates for melanoma vary widely depending on the stage of the disease and the treatment being given. In the initial stage, the cure is most likely. Also, a cure can occur in almost all cases of stage 2 melanoma. Patients treated in the first stage have a 95 percent five-year survival rate and an 88 percent ten-year survival rate. For the second stage, these figures are 79% and 64%, respectively.
In stages 3 and 4, the cancer has spread to distant organs, leading to a significant reduction in survival. The five-year survival rate of patients with stage 3 melanoma is (according to various sources) from 29% to 69%. Ten-year survival is provided only to 15 percent of patients. If the disease has passed into stage 4, then the chance of five-year survival is reduced to 7-19%. There are no ten-year survival statistics for patients with stage 4.

The risk of melanoma recurrence is increased in patients with thick tumors, as well as in the presence of melanoma ulceration and nearby metastatic skin lesions. Recurrent melanoma can occur both in the immediate vicinity of the previous localization site, and at a considerable distance from it.

Melanoma is a skin cancer that develops very quickly from a mole and metastasizes to the lymph nodes and other organs and systems. Detecting melanoma at the initial stage is not easy, the tumor is almost invisible and, nevertheless, very dangerous.

Modern medicine is faced with many diseases. Some of them have been known to mankind for a long time, and some have not even been explored yet. That is why there are often problems with diagnosis and treatment. One of the most dangerous are oncological diseases. They carry a great danger to human life, and at the moment there is no medicine that guarantees a 100% cure. Today's article will focus on melanoma. We will find out what kind of disease it is, what statistics know about it, we will analyze treatment and diagnosis. Be sure to read all the information provided. Today's pace of life requires such awareness not only from specialized specialists, but also from the person himself.

What is melanoma

Melanocytes are certain cells found in human skin that produce melanin (the so-called coloring pigment). Melanoma is a skin cancer that arises and develops from these cells (melanocytes). This tumor disease is now very common worldwide. Unfortunately, people of different ages, gender and nationality are subject to it. The first stages of the disease in question in most cases have a positive trend in treatment, while advanced forms very often do not lend themselves to intervention and, as a result, lead to death.

Modern medicine knows many skin pathologies of an oncological nature, and melanoma is one of them. According to statistics in the countries of Central Europe, there are 10 cases per 100,000 people annually. Austria and America have 37-45 cases per year for a similar number of inhabitants of the country, which makes melanoma the most dangerous cancer even in developed countries, what can we say about those where the level of medicine is not so developed.

Scientists in Berlin came to the conclusion that women experience this disease much more often than men. Statistics show that 6,000 men and 8,000 women are affected by the disease. Mortality due to melanoma is estimated at 2,000 men and women. From official figures it is clear that about 14 thousand Germans fall ill with this type of cancer every year. It is also worth knowing that of all deaths in the world from cancer, 1% of them are due to melanoma.

The disease is considered to be of different ages, but the bulk of patients are in the elderly, after 70 years. Over the past half century, the incidence of the disease has increased by 600%. However, do not relax if this age is still very far away. Unfortunately, melanoma is often diagnosed in middle-aged people, young people and even children.

Lots of moles: maybe melanoma?

Since melanoma develops from a mole, it would be logical to ask: are people with multiple moles on their bodies prone to cancer? Oncologists answer: yes. People with nevi, papillomas and skin propensity to pigmentation need to be careful not to expose the skin to solar radiation and mechanical damage.

Long-term medical studies have shown that people with Eastern European skin type have melanoma on the limbs and trunk. More susceptible to it are faces with blond, red hair, eyes of green, gray, blue hues. The risk group consists primarily of people with pink freckles, congenital age spots (nevi) and atypical moles located on open areas of the body, forearm, foot and back. Injury to the nevus in some cases leads to skin cancer. In older people, age-related pigmentation on the skin is a signal of concern, which in no case should be ignored, since melanoma develops well against this background. The following factors influence the appearance of such a pathology:

hereditary predisposition;
regular exposure to ultraviolet rays;
melanosis Dubrey;
pigment xeroderma;
the presence on the body of a large number of moles (more than 50 pieces) and freckles.

Thus, if there was at least one case of cancer in the family, then all subsequent generations automatically fall into the risk group, and if a person is constantly exposed to ultraviolet rays, and additionally has fair skin of the body strewn with freckles, then he needs to be especially careful relates to your health. These people should also be aware of the factors that can provoke the rapid development of cancer cells (which are in the body of every person, but doze for the time being). In addition to environmental influences, severe stress, a protracted illness, alcohol, smoking, and drugs can also provoke the development of cancer.

The rapid formation of moles and freckles on the skin is also a cause for concern.

Where does melanoma grow?

However, melanoma occurs in people of all skin colors. People in different countries meet with this skin pathology.

The tumor will not be considered malignant if hair growth is found on the skin. On the site affected by melanoma, this does not happen. However, even if there is no hair on the neoplasm, you should not panic, remember - if appropriate measures are taken in time, the disease can be defeated.

Melanoma develops on age spots and healthy skin as well. In women, it is found, most often, in the region of the lower extremities, and in men, on the entire surface of the body. Parts of the body exposed to ultraviolet rays are more likely to be affected by this formation. However, areas of the body where the rays penetrate little and do not penetrate at all are not excluded. This tumor also occurs in people between the fingers, on the soles of the feet, even on the internal organs. Infantile morbidity is extremely rare. Scary, but even a minimal sunburn or heat stroke is conducive to illness.

Everyone develops the disease differently.

The disease progresses at different rates in different patients. There is a period of several months when the disease proceeds very rapidly and leads to death. Some people survive melanoma for more than 5 years with ongoing supportive care.

Another danger is that metastases appear very early, a person may not even be aware of the disease for a long time. The defeat occurs in the bones, brain, liver, lungs, skin, heart. Metastases may not appear if the melanoma has not spread shallowly, that is, no further than the basement membrane.

Types of melanoma and symptoms

Modern medicine distinguishes the disease considered in today's article into types and defines in this distinction a set of symptoms arising from this disease. The symptoms of melanoma are quite varied. Thanks to it and high-quality diagnosis, it is possible to detect the disease at an early stage.

The types of this tumor are as follows:

This formation grows very slowly, but it is considered the most common and occurs, according to statistics, in 47% of cases. It grows in a horizontal direction, has an uneven shape and is slightly convex to the touch. Reaching a peak, it begins to look like a black glossy plaque in appearance. Only then does it gradually grow vertically and then grow deep into the skin;

2. Nodular or nodular melanoma is growing quite rapidly and is the second most common, according to statistics, it occurs in 39% of cases. This type is more aggressive and fast enough;

3. Peripheral or malignant lentigo changes the tissues of the skin, which later turn into cancer, and this type occurs in 6% of cases. It is considered a precancerous condition. The skin lesion is flat, not convex;

4. Amelanotic melanoma or acral melanoma occurs on the soles of the feet and on the palms. Occurs extremely rarely in medical practice.

Melanoma at the initial stage: how to determine

Very often, people with an already advanced stage of melanoma turn to an oncologist, when the tumor has already begun to metastasize to various organs. Due to the painlessness of this type of skin cancer and the speed of its development, the symptoms of melanoma must be known. A person can be saved if melanoma is detected at its very early stage. Melanoma can be identified by:

1. The appearance of a skin formation with an irregular shape;

2. Distinctive color of education;

3. The edges of the tumor with a jagged or arcuate shape;

4. Dark spot with a size of 5 mm;

5. A spot that looks like a mole, which is located above the level of the skin.

From the foregoing, we can draw the following conclusion: it can be melanoma, if a mole suddenly appeared, which was not there before. At the same time, it is irregular and inhomogeneous in shape, has blurred edges. It may itch and hurt. She is completely hairless. It may have ulcers, ooze blood or ichor (but this happens only in some cases).

Sometimes melanoma is reborn from an existing mole. Be careful if:

there used to be hair on the mole, but now they have fallen out;
the mole has increased in size;
the mole has changed color (for example, it used to be light brown, but now it has become very dark, almost black);
the nevus increased its volume - noticeably rose above the skin;
keratosis became noticeable on the nevus - dark dry pimples appeared;
dark spots appeared around the mole.

melanoma symptoms

Skin melanoma is formed from a mole (nevus) in 70% of cases and is located in the trunk, limbs, head and cervical region. In women, as a rule, the lower limbs, chest are affected, and in men, the chest and back. In addition, men are prone to epidermal nevus. The lesion occurs on the palms, feet and scrotum. The skin changes its color, the structure appears bleeding area. These signs, which determine and are the most important in making a preliminary diagnosis.

Melanoma is black, sometimes with a blue tint and looks like a nodule. There are non-pigmented melanomas, in which there is no specific color, and they are painted with a pink tint. The size varies from 0.5 cm to 3 cm. The affected surface may bleed and have a compacted structure. Using a magnifying glass on examination, you can make a preliminary diagnosis.

It is very difficult to determine this disease in the early stages. Cancer in stage I may not attract attention. To determine the disease, the doctor must have extensive experience with similar diseases.

Consider the most common types of melanomas in more detail. We will talk about superficially common, nodular (nodular), malignant lentigo.

Malignant lentigo has a long horizontal growth phase that can last up to 20 years or more. In old age, the disease is formed against the background of pigmentation on the neck and face.

Superficially advanced melanoma occurs in people with an average age of 44 years. Education appears both in closed areas of the skin and in open ones. The upper back is most commonly affected in men, while the lower extremities are affected in women. When formed, the plaque acquires a chaotic contour, in some places it becomes discolored and the color appears mosaic type, the epidermis undergoes changes and thickens significantly. A few years later, a node appears on the plaque, then the growth of melanoma occurs already vertically.

Nodular melanoma is the most aggressive among other types. The average age is 53 years. It is slightly more common in men than in women. Suffer upper and lower limbs, cervical region, head and back. The node is formed quickly, the skin undergoes changes, reaches the peak of development in a few months and already has bleeding.

Incorrectly selected treatment threatens with a recurring relapse. Against its background, metastases of a distant type occur. In most cases, chemotherapy is used. Treatment can be prescribed combined type, then the patient takes anticancer drugs, which gives a chance of recovery in 40% of cases.

Forms of manifestation of melanoma

Malignant melanoma often metastasizes to the brain, heart, lungs, liver by hematogenous and lymphogenous methods. The nodes begin to spread and are located along the limb, skin or trunk.

It happens that a person goes to the doctor with a complaint of enlarged lymph nodes. A competent doctor will ask a lot of clarifying questions to the patient to compile a complete picture of the disease. For example, it may turn out that the patient recently removed a wart that was melanoma.

Symptoms of melanoma of the eye

Tissue damage by melanoma occurs not only on the skin, but also on the visual organ, the eye. The first symptoms include the appearance of a tumor, the rapid deterioration of vision, the appearance of photopsies and progressive scotoma.

Photopsy is accompanied by the appearance of sparks, dots, spots in the field of view. Scotoma is of two types:

1. Positive scotoma (a blind area appears in the field of view, which is perceived by a person as a black spot);

2. Negative scotoma (blind area is not perceived by a person in any way).

A negative scotoma is determined using certain techniques.

A small melanoma can be confused with a pigmented nevus, which is located in the eye membrane. A positive scotoma should be differentiated by an experienced ophthalmic oncologist, as glaucoma has similar symptoms.

It is possible to determine the growth rate of ocular melanoma only with the help of certain studies. The tactics of treatment is chosen by the doctor after a detailed study. Assign radiation therapy, local resection or ocular enucleation.

Stages of melanoma

The disease has 5 stages, where the zero stage is the easiest. Cancer cells are present only at the cellular level. Germination deep into the malignant tumor has not yet occurred.

Stage I has a tumor formation no more than 1-2 mm in thickness, above the level of the skin. There may be ulceration, but this is not necessary. The lymph nodes located next to the affected area of the skin are not affected by the negative effects of the tumor.

Stage II has tumor formations from 2 mm thick and characteristic manifestations. Distant and regional metastases are absent.

At stage III, pathological changes in the skin appear, a nearby lymph node is affected by cancer cells. Sometimes at this stage, melanoma cells spread further along the lymphatic system.

Stage IV always has cancer cells on the lymphatic system and the disease has already spread to other parts of the skin, organs and tissues of the body. Lethal outcome in 100% of cases.

Practice shows that relapses occur even with the right treatment, in addition, the disease returns not only to the places where it was before, but also to those parts of the tissues that were not exposed to melanoma.

Diagnosis of melanoma

A number of manipulations help to diagnose melanoma. The doctor uses a special magnifying glass for examination. Radioisotope research helps to make a diagnosis. Thanks to him, you can see a large amount of phosphorus in the tumor, which means that the neoplasm is malignant.

If skin cancer is suspected, a puncture or biopsy is used, but not for melanoma. The fact is that any damage to the skin can aggravate the situation.

Cytological examination helps to determine the diagnosis definitively. From the superficial side of the formation, an imprint is taken along with the expression.

A detailed conversation with the patient helps in the diagnosis of melanoma. It is necessary to pay attention to the symptoms manifested in the patient. Weight loss, blurred vision, joint pain, headache, and general malaise are common. X-ray, CT and ultrasound help to determine with high accuracy the presence or absence of metastases on the internal organs of a person.

Melanoma treatment

The disease is treated in two ways, it is surgical intervention and combined treatment. With combined treatment, the tumor is removed after irradiation.

Combined treatment occurs in two stages. Close-focus X-ray exposure is used at the first stage. Radiation reaction occurs on the 2nd or 3rd day after exposure to the tumor. Therefore, the operation is carried out before this moment or after it. A malignant formation is removed with a sufficient amount of healthy tissue around. To return the skin to its usual appearance, it is necessary to perform plastic surgery, because a wound defect accompanies this kind of procedure.

A patient who is faced with malignant melanoma must have regional lymph nodes removed, even if the disease is not found in them, because. melanoma tends to spread metastases to nearby lymph nodes. Such caution affects the prognosis of the course of the disease and gives a chance for a favorable outcome. Enlarged lymph nodes indicate a possible metastasis in them. The combined method of treatment involves irradiating them with gamma therapy, after which, through surgical intervention, the necessary lymph nodes are removed. In recent years, such combined methods of fighting cancer have been used quite often, which indicates the positive effect of the combination of these procedures.

Melanoma prognosis: is it possible to survive?

Melanoma is an extremely dangerous and rapidly developing oncological disease. Of primary importance is the clinical stage, which was relevant at the time of diagnosis when referring to an oncologist. After all, the earlier the disease is detected, the greater the chance of a favorable outcome. Approximately 85% of patients survive over a five-year period in stages I and II, when the tumor has not yet spread beyond the cancerous focus. Since stage III metastases spread throughout the lymphatic system, the survival rate is 50% over a five-year period, with only one lymph node affected. If several lymph nodes are affected by the disease, then the possibility of being cured is reduced to 20%. As mentioned earlier, the fourth or last stage of melanoma has distant metastases, so the five-year survival rate is only 5%.

As a rule, the diagnosis is made at stage I or II, which significantly increases the chances of defeating the disease. The thickness of the tumor plays an important role in determining the prognosis, because. its mass indicates the presence of metastases.

A 96-99% survival rate at five years is due to surgery unless the tumor thickness is 0.75 mm or less. Patients with a thickness of no more than 1 mm and about 40% of them have a low risk. A sharp regression or vertical increase in the tumor indicates the appearance of metastases, but only a histological examination will give a final answer.

In 60% of cases, metastases spread if the melanoma has grown to 3.64 mm or more. Such dimensions are very dangerous, because they lead the patient to death. But you can notice the tumor much earlier, because. it rises above the level of the skin and significantly changes its color.

The location of the tumor on the body affects the prognosis. A skin lesion on the forearm or lower leg gives a better chance of recovery than the presence of cancer cells in the area of the hands, feet, mucous membranes and scalp.

Prediction in some way, is determined by belonging to a particular gender. The first two stages often have a better prognosis for women than for men. This is due to the fact that in women the disease develops on the lower extremities, therefore, it is easier to see it at an early stage there, and timely detection of the tumor gives great hope for recovery.

A less favorable prognosis is determined for elderly patients. This is due to the fact that tumors are detected rather late and older men are more likely to suffer from another form of melanoma, namely acral lentiginous.

Statistics show that after 5 years or more, the tumor returns in 15% of cases after its removal. The fact is that the likelihood of recurrence depends on the thickness of the cancer. Accordingly, the thicker the removed tumor was, the more likely it is that it will return in a few years.

In the first two stages, sometimes there are unfavorable prognoses. There is a high risk of increased mitotic activity and satellites (small areas of tumor cells with a size of at least 0.05 mm or even more), which begin to form in the subcutaneous tissue or the reticular layer of the dermis. Often, melanoma spreads satellites and micrometastases at the same time.

According to the method of comparing Clark's histological criteria, a prognosis is made for stages I and II of the disease. The location of the tumor in the epidermis determines the first stage of invasion in accordance with the Clark system. The penetration of a malignant tumor into the layers of the epidermis determines the II stage of invasion. When the tumor reaches the space between the papillary and reticular layers of the dermis, this indicates the III stage of invasion. Stage IV is characterized by the penetration of education into the reticular layer of the dermis. Germination occurs in the subcutaneous tissue at stage V according to Clark's criteria. The survival rate for each individual criterion is 100% for stage I, 95% for stage II, 82% for stage III, 71% for stage IV, and 49% for stage V.

Each person should understand that a timely visit to the clinic makes it possible to prevent the serious consequences of diseases. Any change in the nevus is a reason for a thorough examination. It is necessary to pay attention to changes in its color, size and shape. Manifestations and bleeding should not be left to chance, because stages III and IV are not amenable to treatment by modern medicine. Even the most advanced technologies and the latest equipment have not yet learned how to cope with advanced forms of cancer. Prevention and early diagnosis of the disease helps to prevent the most severe disease and its consequences. Don't forget to check your skin. At the slightest suspicion of melanoma, contact your doctor immediately.

Melanoma is a type of cancer that affects melanocytes, the pigment cells found in human skin.

Melanoma is characterized by a high risk of rapid metastasis, which leads to the development of severe complications and, in severe cases, death of the patient. About 50,000 new cases of melanoma are registered in the United States each year.

The first link in the timely diagnosis of the disease is the patients themselves, since melanomas usually occur on open, visible areas of the skin. This is important because early detection and diagnosis of melanoma ensures a quick cure with minimal surgery.

Disease statistics

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and Australia. In other countries, this group of diseases is in the top three. Melanoma is the leading form of skin cancer in terms of the number of deaths. One person dies from this disease every hour in the world. In 2013, there were 77,000 confirmed melanoma diagnoses and 9,500 deaths from it. The share of melanoma in the structure of oncological diseases is only 2.3%, while at the same time being the cause of 75% of deaths from skin cancer.

This form of cancer is not exclusively skin and can affect the eyes, scalp, nails, feet, oral mucosa (regardless of gender and age). The risk of developing melanoma among representatives of Caucasian nationalities is 2%, 0.5% among Europeans and 0.1% among Africans.

The reasons

Prolonged exposure to the sun. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation, including tanning beds, can cause melanoma to develop. Excessive exposure to the sun in childhood significantly increases the risk of disease. Residents of regions with increased solar activity (Florida, Hawaii and Australia) are more prone to developing skin cancer.

A sunburn caused by prolonged exposure to the sun more than doubles the risk of developing melanoma. A visit to the solarium increases this indicator by 75%. The Agency for Research on Cancer within the WHO classifies tanning equipment as a "high risk factor for skin cancer" and classifies tanning equipment as a carcinogen.

Moles. There are two types of moles: normal and atypical. The presence of atypical (asymmetrical, raised above the skin) moles increases the risk of developing melanoma. Also, regardless of the type of moles, the more there are, the higher the risk of degeneration into a cancerous tumor;
Type of skin. People with more delicate skin (they are characterized by lighter hair and eyes) are at increased risk.
Anamnesis. If you have previously had melanoma or another type of skin cancer and have recovered, the risk of developing the disease again increases significantly.
Weakened immunity. Negative effects on the immune system of various factors, including chemotherapy, organ transplantation, HIV / AIDS and other immunodeficiency conditions increase the likelihood of developing melanoma.

An important role in relation to the development of cancers, including melanoma, is played by heredity. Approximately one in ten patients with melanoma has a close relative who suffers from or has had the disease. A positive family history includes the presence of melanoma in parents, siblings, and children. In this case, the risk of melanoma increases by 50%.

Types of melanoma

According to the type of melanoma, they are divided into 4 categories. Three of them are distinguished by a gradual onset with the development of changes in only the surface layer of the skin. Such forms very rarely acquire an invasive course. The fourth type is characterized by a tendency to rapidly grow deep into the skin and spread to other parts of the body and internal organs of the patient.

Superficial (superficial) melanoma

is the most common variant of the course of the disease (70% of cases). This is a melanoma of the skin, the symptoms of which are characterized by the long-term persistence of a relatively benign growth in the upper (outer) layer of the skin. Only after a long period of time does superficial melanoma grow into deeper layers.

The first sign of this type of melanoma is the appearance of a flat asymmetrical spot with uneven borders. The color of the affected area changes, becoming brown (like a tan), black, red, blue or white. Such melanomas can occur at the site of moles. Although the disease can occur anywhere on the skin, these symptoms are more likely to develop on the trunk (in men) and on the legs (in women), as well as in the upper back (regardless of gender).

Malignant lentigo

downstream it is similar to superficial melanoma, as it develops in the upper layers of the skin for a long time. Visually, lentigo appears as a flat or slightly raised, unevenly colored area of the skin. The color of the spot is variegated with brown and dark brown elements. This type of "in situ" melanoma is more common in older patients due to constant chronic exposure to solar radiation and usually develops on the face, ears, arms and upper torso. This is the most common form of melanoma in Hawaii. At the transition to the invasive stage, the disease is called lentigo-melanoma.

Acral lentiginous melanoma

also develops superficially before continuing to grow deeper into the skin. This form differs from the rest in that it appears as black or brown spots under the nails, on the palms or on the feet. The disease progresses faster than previous forms and more often affects dark-skinned people. This is the most common form among Africans and Asians, while Caucasians and Europeans are the least affected.

nodular melanoma

is an invasive course. Usually, by the time of detection, it already grows deep enough into the skin. Outwardly, such a melanoma resembles a bump. Usually it has a black color, but other options are also found (blue, gray, white, brown, red, or even unchanged, skin color). It is localized more often on the trunk, legs and arms. It mainly affects the elderly. This is the most aggressive form of melanoma. It is diagnosed in 10-15% of cases.

melanoma symptoms

Melanoma can develop from a pre-existing mole or other skin disease, but it often occurs on intact skin. The most common sites for melanoma are the legs and upper back. Due to the continued production of melanin by the altered cells, the tumor is black or brown, but colorless melanomas also occur.

Less commonly, melanomas occur on the palms, nails, and mucous membranes. In older people, melanomas are more common on the face, as well as on the neck, scalp, and ears.

Early symptoms of melanoma

The main signs of melanoma are a change in the size, shape, color of pre-existing moles or "birthmarks" or the appearance of discomfort in this area. The development of these symptoms can take a long time (several weeks or months). In addition, melanoma may initially be perceived as a new mole, but at the same time have an unpleasant appearance. The appearance of such a subjective symptom should serve as an alarming sign and a reason to visit a doctor.

The first signs of melanoma include:

Bleeding
burning sensation
Crust formation
Change in the height of the spots (thickening or elevation above the skin of a mole that used to be flat)
ulceration,
Change in consistency (mole becomes soft)
The appearance of any discharge in the tumor area
An increase in the size of the altered focus
Redness or swelling of surrounding tissues
The appearance of new small areas of pigmentation around the main focus

Late symptoms of melanoma

Further development is characterized by the following symptoms of melanoma:

Violation of the integrity of the skin
Bleeding from a mole
Bleeding from other pigmented areas of the skin
Pain in the affected area

Symptoms of metastatic melanoma

These symptoms develop when melanoma cancer cells enter the bloodstream and spread to other organs:

chronic cough
Thickening under the skin
Gray skin tone
Constant headache
convulsions
Enlarged lymph nodes
Unexplained weight loss, wasting

You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience:

Bleeding from moles or in areas of pigmentation

Discoloration of fingernails and toenails not caused by injury

Asymmetric growth of moles or individual areas of the skin

Skin darkening not related to sunburn

The appearance of areas of pigmentation with uneven edges

The appearance of moles with areas of different colors (the spread of pigmentation from the mole to the surrounding tissues is an early sign of melanoma)

Diameter increase over 6mm

Stages of melanoma

According to the new approved international classification, when determining the stage of the course of melanoma, the diagnostic criteria are the thickness of the tumor (Breslow thickness), the presence of microscopic ulcerations and the rate of division of cancer cells. Thanks to the new system, it became possible to make a more accurate diagnosis and plan the most effective treatment.

Breslow thickness is measured in millimeters and characterizes the distance from the upper layer of the epidermis to the deepest point of tumor growth. The thinner the melanoma, the higher the chance of a cure. This indicator is the most important aspect in predicting the course and effectiveness of therapeutic measures.

1 and 2 stages

melanomas are characterized by a limited tumor. This means that the cancer cells have not yet metastasized to the lymph nodes or other organs. At this stage, the risk of re-development of melanoma or further spread of the tumor is quite low.

Depending on the thickness, there are:

Melanoma "in situ" ("on the spot"). This is the initial stage, when the tumor has not yet grown deep into the epidermis. This form is also referred to as the zero stage;
Thin tumors (less than 1 mm). The development of the tumor indicates the initial (first) stage of melanoma;
Medium thickness (1 - 4 mm). Starting from this moment, the course of melanoma passes into the second stage;
Thick melanomas (more than 4 mm in thickness).

The presence of microscopic ulceration exacerbates the severity of the course of the disease and marks the transition to advanced stages. The rate of cell division is also an important criterion in determining the prognosis of the course. Even a single confirmed process of dividing a culture of cancer cells per square millimeter characterizes the transition to more severe stages of the course of melanoma and increases the risk of metastasis. In this case, the method of choice is a more aggressive treatment strategy to achieve the desired effect. At the first and second stages, melanoma is characterized by an asymptomatic increase in the size of pigmentation areas, their elevation above the skin level without bleeding and pain.

3 stage

At this stage, there are important changes in the course of the disease. At this stage, the Breslow thickness is no longer taken into account, but the definition of ulceration becomes indicative.

The third stage is characterized by the spread of tumor cells to the lymph nodes and the surrounding areas of the skin. Any spread of the tumor beyond the boundaries of the primary focus is characterized. As a transition to the third stage. This is confirmed by biopsy of the lymph node closest to the tumor. Now such a diagnostic method is indicated when the tumor size increases more than 1 mm or if there are signs of ulceration. The third stage is characterized by the late symptoms of melanoma described above (pain, bleeding, etc.).

4 stage

means that tumor cells metastasize to distant organs. Metastases in melanoma spread in (according to the time of involvement in the pathological process):

Lungs
Liver
Bones
Gastrointestinal tract

At this stage, symptoms of metastatic melanoma appear, which depend on the lesion of a particular organ. At stage 4, melanoma has a very unfavorable prognosis, the effectiveness of treatment is only 10%.

What does melanoma look like - photo


Malignant melanoma is not always characterized by dark pigmentation. Because of this, it is often difficult to make a correct diagnosis.	Photographs taken at some time interval help to assess the degree of tumor growth and change in the size of the focus.

Left - plain Right - Color changes within one element	Left - smooth edges Right - No clear border

Left - Common mole Right - Change shape, size and color	Left - Normal mole (symmetrical) Right - Melanoma (asymmetric)

A brown or dark line along the nail should be considered malignant melanoma, especially if the edges are uneven and progressively thicker.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of melanoma is a rather difficult task even for an experienced dermatologist. Since characteristic symptoms do not always come first, it is necessary to pay great attention to self-diagnosis and notify the doctor immediately after detecting a suspicious mole or spot. This is especially important if your close relatives have had a similar disease. After an examination to confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may order a skin biopsy, as well as a biopsy of the lymph nodes. The final diagnosis of melanoma is confirmed only after a histological examination of the biopsy. Obtained from a pathological focus.

Early detection of melanoma can save a patient's life. To do this, it is recommended to perform monthly self-examination for the timely detection of skin changes. This does not require special tools. All you need is a bright lamp, a large mirror, a hand mirror, two chairs, and a hair dryer.

Examine the head and face with one or both mirrors. Use a hair dryer to check the scalp;
Check the skin of the hands, including the nails. Use mirrors to examine your elbows, shoulders, and armpits;
Carefully evaluate the condition of the skin on the neck, chest and torso. For women, be sure to check the skin under the mammary glands;
Using a mirror, examine the back, buttocks and back of the neck, shoulders and legs;
Carefully evaluate the condition of the skin on the legs and feet, including the nails. Be sure to check your knees;
Using a mirror, examine the skin on the genitals.

If you find suspicious elements of pigmentation, compare them with the photographs of melanomas below.

Forecast

The prognosis of the disease depends on the time of detection and the degree of progression of the tumor. When detected early, most melanomas respond well to treatment.

If you have had melanoma and have recovered, it is very important to conduct self-examinations regularly, as for this category of patients the risk of recurrence of the disease is very high. Melanoma can recur even after several years.

Survival rates for melanoma vary widely depending on the stage of the disease and the treatment being given. In the first stage, a cure is most likely. Also, a cure can occur in almost all cases of stage 2 melanoma. Patients treated in the first stage have a 95 percent five-year survival rate and an 88 percent ten-year survival rate. For the second stage, these figures are 79% and 64%, respectively.

In stages 3 and 4, the cancer has spread to distant organs, leading to a significant reduction in survival. The five-year survival rate of patients with stage 3 melanoma is (according to various sources) from 29% to 69%. Ten-year survival is provided only to 15 percent of patients.

If the disease has passed into stage 4, then the chance of five-year survival is reduced to 7-19%. There are no ten-year survival statistics for patients with stage 4.

Despite the fact that this form of cancer looks scary, the prognosis for its treatment is not always unfavorable. Even with recurrence, early treatment leads to a cure and ensures long-term survival of patients.

The development of an oncological process on the leg is easier to prevent than to cure. Melanoma appears at any age, although it is more often diagnosed after 45 years of age.

Pathology is characterized by rapid development and the ability to affect not only the surface of the skin, but also various internal organs.

Melanoma refers to cancer. The malignant process begins with the defeat of melanocytes. These particles are located in the skin and are responsible for its pigmentation. Pathology is capable of rapid metastasis, the appearance of complications. It occupies a leading position among skin oncology in terms of mortality.

Most often, the disease affects the legs.

Melanoma is difficult to distinguish from birthmarks, which are located on the legs quite a lot. Because of this, it is difficult even for a specialist to diagnose pathology at an early stage.

Often, cancer affects the foot, so you should carefully monitor the appearance of age spots in these places. There is subungual melanoma. The thumbs are most commonly affected. Possible damage to the lower leg and femoral part of the leg.

In a very short time, a malignant tumor can reach the internal organs. With the growth of the neoplasm, a person feels severe pain in the bones.

The reasons

Melanoma can develop even from a single melanocyte. Pathology appears on the basis of benign formations. The following reasons can serve as an impetus for rebirth:

Frequent and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Ultraviolet provokes the appearance of melanomas. This confirms the fact that more often pathology on the legs occurs in residents of sunny regions. For example, representatives of Florida, Australia. The risk of developing foot disease is also increased among tanning bed lovers.
Heredity. Many patients with melanoma of the leg have relatives with a similar disease. If a close relative had a pathology in the family, the risk of developing melanoma increases by 50%.
The presence of moles. Atypical moles are neoplasms that have an asymmetrical shape, rise above the skin. The risk increases when such neoplasms are damaged, for example, during depilation of the legs, cleansing the feet of rough skin.
Immune problems. The risk of developing melanoma on the leg increases in the presence of a disease that can suppress the human immune system. People who have undergone a course of chemotherapy, transplantation are also prone to the development of pathology.

People with sensitive skin should be less exposed to direct sunlight, as well as more closely monitor how moles on their legs behave.

Kinds

Melanoma on the leg can develop gradually, growing into the surface layer of the skin. There is a form that is distinguished by its aggressiveness.

Types of melanoma:

Superficial- the pathology is also called superficial, due to the fact that for a long time it does not grow into the deep skin layers. It occurs in 70% of cases of lesions of the skin of the legs. The disease on the legs is more often diagnosed among the female population.
Malignant lentigo- pathology is rare on the legs; older people get sick with it more often. The type of melanoma is widespread in Hawaii.
Acral lentiginous- develops on the surface of the skin for a long time. The disease is more often affected by dark-skinned inhabitants of the planet. Pathology appears on the feet, under the nails.
nodal- characterized by rapid germination deep into the skin. Often formed on the legs of older people. An aggressive form of cancer occurs in 10-15% of cases.

The latter species is found on the legs when the neoplasm has spread deep into the skin. Other types can be diagnosed in the early stages, when the pathology can be cured.

stages

The most important criterion for dividing skin melanoma into stages is the thickness of the neoplasm on the leg. The thinner it is, the higher the chance of a cure. Other criteria are the presence of metastasis of neighboring lymph nodes, the presence of distant metastasis.

Stages of the cancer process on the leg:

1 stage- the thickness of the neoplasm on the leg is not more than 2 mm, that is, it is located on the surface of the skin. Metastases are not formed.
2 stage- the thickness of the formation on the leg is more than 2 mm, that is, it has begun to grow into the skin tissues. Metastases are not formed.
3 stage- adjacent lymph nodes located on the legs are affected by the pathology.
4 stage- melanoma has metastasized to various organs and tissues, bones and distant internal organs are affected.

Basically, melanoma on the leg spreads secondary foci to the liver and lungs. Possible brain damage.

Symptoms

On the leg, melanoma can develop from an ordinary mole, due to another skin pathology, and occur on clean skin. Often the tumor has a very dark color. This is due to the fact that the altered cells continue to produce pigment.

Primary signs of the development of pathology on the leg:

changes in form- formation becomes convex;
change in size- neoplasm is constantly growing;
change in color- the birthmark acquires an uneven color with dark patches;
changes in outline- the edges of the formation are indented, have an irregular shape.

A birthmark that causes discomfort should alert. Especially if the mole on the leg begins to itch, bleed, and crust over.

At the onset of metastasis, symptoms of cancer appear. The patient feels pain in the bones, weakness, exhaustion.

Diagnostics

Timely detection of melanoma on the leg depends on the professionalism of the dermatologist and the patient's attentive attitude to his health. When diagnosing, self-diagnosis is of no small importance.

The main types of examination:

Self-diagnosis- it is necessary to assess the condition of the skin on the entire surface of the leg, including the feet with nails. Using a mirror, examine the knee and back of the thigh of each leg. If a birthmark changes, cracks appear on it, you should consult a doctor.
Inspection- a specialist not only examines a suspicious neoplasm, but also conducts a thorough conversation with the patient. During a routine examination, it is very difficult to distinguish melanoma from a benign tumor on the leg.
Dermatoscopy- refers to modern methods. With the help of optics, melanoma on the leg increases many times over. Allows you to identify the disease at an early stage.
Biopsy- The method is performed under general anesthesia. The tumor is excised and sent for histology.
Diagnosis of metastasis- The presence of secondary lesions can be detected by ultrasound of adjacent lymph nodes and the abdominal cavity, as well as chest X-ray.

When the diagnosis is confirmed, specialists select the appropriate therapy.

Treatment

Despite minor forms of cancer, it can behave quite aggressively. The sooner treatment begins, the greater the chance of a complete cure.

Treatment methods:

Removal of the tumor- in the first stages, the neoplasm is excised along with neighboring healthy tissues. In the last stages, along with melanoma, adjacent lymph nodes on the leg are removed.
Finger amputation- with the development of pathology under the nail, a decision may be made to amputate the finger so that metastasis does not begin.
Chemotherapy- the use of medications will avoid relapse, destroy unnoticed secondary foci. At stage 4 of the disease, the method is able to extend life by 3-6 months.
Radiation therapy- the method is used when metastases are detected. Therapy can relieve symptoms when the bones or brain are affected.
Immunotherapy- the method allows you to extend the life.

At stage 4, patients may be asked to participate in clinical trials of new treatments. Some of them are quite effective.

Prevention

You can reduce the risk of melanoma on the leg by following simple rules. First of all, you should limit access to exposed skin of ultraviolet radiation. When in the sun, you need to use special creams. It is important that children do not get sunburn.

In the presence of age spots and moles, it is important not to allow them to be traumatized. If the skin formation is constantly injured, it is better to remove it in a timely manner. An annual visit to the oncologist will allow you to notice the development of pathology on the leg in time.

What prevention is advised by experts, you can find out from this video:

Forecast

During the year, the pathology reaches the lymph nodes, penetrates into various organs, including the brain. When diagnosing secondary tumors in the internal organs, the patient has to live for about six months.

The effectiveness of treatment largely depends on the stage at which therapy began. The highest scores at stage 1 - 5 years, 95% of patients live, and 10 years - 88%. Patients with stage 2 live 5 years in 79% of cases, and 10 years in 64%.

Subsequent stages are characterized by the development of metastases, so the survival prognosis worsens. In the treatment of stage 3 melanoma of the leg, about 40% of patients live for 5 years, and only 15% for 10 years. Therapy started at stage 4 prolongs life by 5 years in about 10% of patients; statistics on stage 4 are not kept for 10 years of life.

With proper treatment, survival depends on the thickness of the primary lesion. So 98-100% of patients live for five years, if the neoplasm on the leg has not reached 0.75 mm in thickness. When the tumor grows up to 1.5 mm, the survival rate is 85%. With a thickening of up to 4 mm, the five-year survival rate reaches 47%.

Melanoma on the leg is dangerous not only for its aggressive course, but also for the high probability of recurrence. Recurrent malignancy can occur in any part of the leg. But even recurrent melanoma is treatable.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.