Melanoma Can Affect The Toenail

Melanoma is a cancerous growth of melanocytes that produce melanin. The type of melanoma that typically affects the toenail is acral lentiginous melanoma. In the United States, acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) accounts for about 5% of all diagnosed melanomas. It also is the most common form of melanoma in Asians and people with dark skin, accounting for 50% of melanomas that occur in people with these skin types.

ALM is sometimes referred to as a "hidden melanoma" because these lesions occur on parts of the body not easily examined or not thought necessary to examine. ALM develops on the palms, soles, mucous membranes (such as those that line the mouth, nose, and female genitals), and underneath or near fingernails and toenails.

ALM is often overlooked until it is well advanced because in the early stages, it often looks like a bruise or nail streak. Here is what it usually looks like on each area of the body:

o Palm or sole - Melanoma usually begins as an irregularly shaped tan, brown, or black spot. It is often mistakenly attributed to some recent injury -- that is, the patient recalls a relatively recent bruise or blow in the general area of the pigmented spot.

o Mucous membranes - When melanoma develops on a mucus membrane, it is most likely to develop inside the nose or mouth. Early symptoms include nosebleeds and nasal stuffiness and a pigmented mass inside the mouth. Melanomas also can develop on the mucous membranes of the anus, urinary tract, and female genitalia.

o Under a nail - The first sign may be a "nail streak" -- a narrow, dark stripe under the nail. ALM usually develops on the thumb or big toe; however, it can occur under any fingernail or toenail. Many individuals, especially dark-skinned people, have fixed nail streaks that are completely benign. A new nail streak not associated with recent trauma, an enlarging nail streak, a wide or very darkly pigmented streak, or a nail that is separating or lifting up from the nail bed should be examined by a dermatologist. A possible indication of advanced ALM is a nail streak with associated pigmentation in the nail fold skin or destruction of the nail plate. ALM of the fingers or toes also can develop without an obvious nail streak -- particularly the non-pigmented variety. ALM may, for example, look very much like a chronic infection of the nail bed.
Some types of melanoma can be treated with surgery alone while in other cases radiation or chemotherapy may be needed. With the advances in medical treatment, melanoma of the toenail is usually curable if it is caught in the early stages.

Glossary

Acral lentiginous melanoma: A type of melanoma that affects the toenail
Dermatologist: A physician who specializes in diseases of the skin

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Cancer Symptoms in dogs Canine Melanoma can have serious consequences for the health of your dog

This cancer is a serious threat to the health of a dog. It is found usually occur to a canine mouth, behind the eyes, skin and even on the toes. If canine melanoma is identified particularly in the toes, behind the eyes, mouth, and extreme caution as it could be malignant should be exercised. It means, melanoma can spread to another organ. However, the melanoma is on the skin of tumors that can not spread or benign. But there are some exceptions.

> Cancer Symptoms in Dogs

The apparent symptoms of cancer in dogs would be (a) dyed strange and odd skin lesions, (b) bad breath (c) eat reluctant to (d) drooling, (e) cough (f) loss of weight (g) in difficulty swallowing, and (i ) visible tumors on the body.

Diagnosis

The veterinarian of the dog is first a physical check up, including palpation of the lymph nodes. Collecting blood samples and blood tests will show necessaryInformation such as blood count and serum chemistry. The condition of the lungs are checked by X-ray. Biopsy of the tumor is the assured way to detect any infection of dog cancer.

Treatment

First of all, if the cancer is widespread, surgery may be the best way to treat tumors of the situation that is all or at least as far as possible. Radiation would be another way of treatment that shrink the tumor, will impede the furtherGrowth. Radiation is administered in 3 cycles on the first day, seven days and twenty days. Chemotherapy would work perfectly if the cancer is associated with dacarbazine.

Forecast

Canine melanoma is a difficult disease to predict. It can be used after the spread of proper treatment. It is bad if it is found at the forecast on the skin, and poorer, when the mouth is, toes and behind the eyes. It can spread rapidly if not treated in time.

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Skin cancer - Melanoma - 2

In the first part of this article on melanoma, we learned about what is melanoma and what are the causes. In this part we will find out about symptoms of Melanoma.

Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma

Look for changes in moles. The ABCD system of the American Cancer Society is very easy to understand.

A-asymmetry. One half does not match the other half.

B Border irregularity, with ragged, notched or blurred edges.

C-Color. ThePigmentation is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown and black are present. Changes in color distribution, especially the spread of color from the edge of a mole into the surrounding skin, also an early sign of melanoma.

D-diameter. The mole or skin growth is larger than 6 mm (0.2 inches).

Any other change in the appearance of an existing mole should be in for a possibility of Melanoma saw. Thickening or increase of a previously flat mole, scaling, erosion, oozing, bleeding orCrusting of the surface mole, redness, swelling, etc. in the surrounding skin or sensations, like itching, tingling or burning and fragility of the pier are the symptoms of melanoma. As a melanoma grows, you may experience symptoms such as bleeding from a mole or pain.

A melanoma is that you can start to spread, swollen lymph nodes, colorless lump or thickening under the skin), unexplained weight loss, and melanosis (graying of the skin. These symptoms are not conclusiveand in many other conditions manifest.

Aging of the skin (melanosis). Many other conditions have similar symptoms, such as melanoma.

This article is for informational purposes only. This article is not intended to seek medical advice and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical problems. Please follow any tip in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damagethe basis of information obtained from this article.

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