cancer

     Melanoma is the most severe, dangerous type of skin cancer, and it is the number one cause of death from skin disease. Changes in cells called melanocytes that make a skin pigment called melanin. Melanin is in charge of your skin and hair color. It can show up on your skin, or it may start as a mole or another region of your skin that has changed in the way it looks. Some birth marks eventually turning into melanomas. The four different types of melanoma are:

1. Superficial spreading melanoma, which is the most common type, usually being flat and different in shape and color. It is usually more in light skinned people.
2. Nodular melanoma, which mostly starts as a raised area that is dark, usually a black, blue, or reddish color. But sometimes they don't have any color at all.
3. Lentigo maligna melanoma, which is most common with elders. It is mostly common in skin damaged by the sun on the face, neck, and arms. Most of the time these areas are flat, large, and tan with areas of brown.
4. Acral lentiginous, which is the least common form. You usually see it form on palms, soles, or under the nails.

Melanoma is not as common as most of all of the other skin cancers but it is increasing by a lot. The risk of getting this cancer gets higher as you get older, but it is more commonly seen in younger people. Developing melanoma is more likely to develop if you: have blue or green eyes, red or blond hair, and fair skin. Live in high altitudes or a place with a sunny climate, have spent a lot if time in the sun because of jobs or other things, have had more than one blistering sunburns as a child, or use tanning devices regularly. Some other risk factors are: having close relatives with a history of melanoma, coming in contact with cancer- causing chemicals like arsenic, coal, tar, and creosote. Certain types of moles or multiple mirth marks, or a weakened immune system because disease or medication.
     Cancerous cells can spread to any part of the body at various rates, depending on how serious the melanoma is. The cells multiply by dividing and going into healthy cells. Melanoma begins as a topical skin cancer, but can turn into cancer that goes deep into the skin, lymph nodes, blood, brain, lungs, bones or the entire body. In addition, melanoma can also spread through blood and lymphatic fluids to other areas in your body. This may cause cancerous tumors to form.

-Here is a photo of melanoma cells in the body.