Is melanoma cancer?

Written by Sun Ming Yue

Medical Oncology

Updated on September 25, 2024

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Melanoma is generally a malignant tumor caused by melanin in the skin and other organs, which means melanoma is also known as cancer, and it is a very bad tumor. If there are hair follicles in this melanoma, then it is very likely that cancerous changes will occur. Patients should pay attention as the malignancy of the disease is extremely high, and they should seek timely medical examinations and treatment.

Other Voices

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Written by Sun Ming Yue

Medical Oncology

30sec

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How long does it take for melanoma to develop from early stage to advanced stage?

From what we observe now, in the early stages of illness, melanomas are typically found on the extremities such as hands, feet, the underside of feet, under fingernails, and particularly on the big toe. Initially, they might appear simply as a black spot or a lesion. About two to three years later, there might be swelling at the site of the lesion or black spot. Then, within another five to six months, it may ulcerate, indicating that the condition has worsened.

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Written by Yan Chun

Oncology

40sec

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How long does it take for melanoma to develop?

The duration of melanoma development varies because melanoma is a type of skin cancer with a relatively high degree of malignancy. However, clinically, the types of melanoma are diverse, and the onset time generally correlates with the patient's clinical phenotype. For some superficial types of melanoma with low malignancy, it generally takes several years to develop. For highly malignant melanomas, the disease generally progresses rapidly within about six months to a year. Once melanoma progresses, it can affect multiple parts of the body and severely impact the patient's lifespan.

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Written by Zhu Zhu

Dermatology

28sec

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The difference between melanoma and moles

Melanoma and moles are distinguishable; firstly, moles are generally smaller, while melanomas have a larger diameter. Secondly, the color of a mole is more uniform, whereas the color of a melanoma is inconsistent in depth. Furthermore, moles are typically symmetric in shape, while melanomas are asymmetric. Lastly, melanoma is a type of malignant tumor, whereas a mole is simply a skin condition.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo

Oncology

38sec

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Melanoma originates from which tissue?

Melanoma does not originate from any specific tissue, but from melanocytes. Therefore, melanoma can occur in any tissue where melanocytes are present. The most common sites for melanoma are the skin and mucous membranes. Additionally, because melanocytes are widely present throughout the body, melanoma can also occur in hollow organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, in skeletal muscles, and in the nervous system. Once diagnosed, melanoma needs to be treated promptly. The main treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

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Written by Liu Gang

Dermatology

43sec

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Is melanoma a malignant tumor?

Melanoma is a type of malignant tumor with a relatively high degree of malignancy and a high chance of metastasis, leading to a high mortality rate in the later stages. Once diagnosed, it is imperative to undergo surgical removal at a recognized hospital's dermatology department, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Melanomas usually develop from common melanocytic nevi, so if such nevi appear on the body, they should be treated correctly. If small, they can be removed with laser treatment; if slightly larger, surgical removal is recommended. If localized melanocytic nevi cause pain, itching, oozing, or bleeding, these could be precursors to malignant transformation and should be taken seriously.