| Of all the skin cancers, malignant melanoma is the | | | | Approximately half of malignant melanoma |
| most serious. It accounts for approximately 75% | | | | tumors metastasise to the brain. Seizures are the |
| of all skin cancer deaths and is the sixth most | | | | most common symptom, appearing in 25 to 37% |
| common form of cancer. This can be directly | | | | of patients. Symptoms can vary depending on |
| attributed to the fact that melanoma, unless | | | | where the tumors appear in the brain. However, |
| treated early, usually metastasises to other | | | | in cases of metastatic brain cancer, some are |
| organs. | | | | more common. These include headaches, bleeding, |
| The first place melanoma traditionally | | | | nausea, vomiting, swelling, and impairment of |
| metastasises to are the lymph nodes near the | | | | motor or mental function. If sensory organs in the |
| site of the skin cancer. The lymph nodes are part | | | | brain are involved, patients may have problems |
| of the lymphatic system and play an important | | | | with hearing or vision as well. |
| role in immune system function. Special white | | | | Melanoma of the lung is rare. According to |
| blood cells called lymphocytes circulate in the body | | | | statistics, it is responsible for less than one |
| seeking out foreign cells. They return to the | | | | percent of tumors in the lungs. There aren't |
| nodes where the foreign bodies are identified and | | | | always symptoms of this condition. Some people |
| the cells are specialised to fight that particular | | | | do experience a cough that does not respond to |
| infection. From the node, they flow back into the | | | | usual treatment, shortness of breath or fluid |
| blood stream, following it to the foreign cells, | | | | buildup that leads to pleural effusion (collection of |
| which they then attack. | | | | fluid next to the lung). If pleural effusion is |
| When an infection is present, lymph nodes are | | | | present, patients may have discomfort in the |
| commonly swollen. This is due to the large | | | | chest. |
| amounts of B cells, the specialised lymphocytes | | | | In the digestive tract, melanoma is often |
| responsible for creating antibodies. When cancer is | | | | misdiagnosed due to its tendency to mimic the |
| present, the nodes usually become enlarged and | | | | appearance of other more common disorders. |
| may appear as a hard knot. However, if there | | | | Symptoms are not always present, but may |
| are only a few cancer cells, this is not always the | | | | include difficulty swallowing, a full sensation in the |
| case. If melanoma metastasises to the lymph | | | | abdomen, blockage of the digestive tract or pain |
| nodes found in the chest or abdomen, patients | | | | in the abdominal area. |
| may experience shortness of breath or backache. | | | | With malignant melanoma, preventing metastases |
| Malignant melanoma may also spread to the liver, | | | | is critical. Once tumors metastasise, they can |
| brain, lungs, or digestive tract. Cases of advanced | | | | have devastating effects on the body. In some |
| ocular melanoma, or melanoma of the eye, | | | | cases, death may result. |
| metastasise to the liver in 95% of cases. In some | | | | Everyone should know the ABCD's of melanoma; |
| cases, there are no symptoms of hepatic | | | | A for Asymmetry, B for Border, C for Colour |
| melanoma. Those that do experience symptoms | | | | and D for Diameter. If melanoma is suspected, it |
| may have nausea, weight loss, fever, jaundice, | | | | should be checked immediately. Early detection |
| sweats or pain in the upper right area of the | | | | increases the chances of survival from what can |
| abdomen. | | | | otherwise a fatal disease. |