Cardiac Involvement in melanoma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cardiac Involvement in melanoma - Essay Example As it mainly affects the skin, it causes majority of skin cancer related deaths worldwide. At present, it is the sixth most common cancer in the United States, with the current lifetime risk for developing invasive melanoma is 1 case per 60 Americans, a 2000% increase since 1930. (Swetter, 2010). Cause of the disorder Melanoma is caused when the melanocytes are constantly exposed to sunlight, paving the way for Ultra-violet photons to strike the chromophore, a part of melanocyte. So, exposure to UV radiation clearly plays a role in melanoma. As people with history of sunburns, especially blistering sunburns during childhood or in teenage, are likely to show an augmented risk of developing melanoma. (aad.org). Another widely accepted caustic factor is genetics, with familial melanoma occurring mainly due to the chromosomes 1p, 9p and 12q. Having two or more close relatives who have had this disease is a risk factor. (medicinenet.com). Symptoms The symptoms of Melanoma, as mentioned ab ove, are any changes in the shape and color of the existing moles and also any new lump or lesions on the skin. The early symptoms of melanoma can be summarized by the mnemonic, â€Å"ABCD†. ‘A’ stands for Asymmetry and it means one half difference between the abnormal area and the other half.