What is Uveal Melanoma?
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As per the American Skin Association, Uveal Melanoma is a life threatening malignant tumor that originates in cells called melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells. The majority of melanomas are black or brown. However, some melanomas are skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue or white. Melanoma begins on the skin where it is easy to see and treat. However, it can grow into the skin, reaching the blood vessels and lymphatics, and can spread within the body to various organs when it can be fatal. If it is recognized and treated early, chances of recovery are very good. But if it is not found early, it can grow deeper into the skin, and spread to other parts of the body. Once melanoma spreads beyond the skin to other parts of the body, it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal.
As per the Melanoma Research Foundation, the term malignant melanoma, or Stage IV melanoma, is used when melanoma cells of any kind (cutaneous, mucosal or ocular) spread through the lymph nodes to distant sites in the body and to the body's organs. The liver, lungs, bones, and brain are often affected by these metastases.
Melanomas fall into four basic categories:
• Superficial Spreading Melanoma: It is the most common type, accounting for about 70 percent of all cases. It is often seen in young people. In this type, melanoma travels along the top layer of the skin for a fairly long time before penetrating more deeply.
• Lentigo Maligna: This type of melanoma is found most often in the elderly, arising on chronically sun-exposed, damaged skin on the face, ears, arms and upper trunk.
• Acral lentiginous melanoma: It usually appears as a black or brown discoloration under the nails or on the soles of the feet or palms of the hands. It spreads superficially before penetrating more deeply.
• Nodular Melanoma: It is usually invasive at the time it is first diagnosed. It is usually black, but occasionally is blue, gray, white, brown, tan, red or skin tone.
• The causes for melanoma include high freckle density or tendency to develop freckles after sun exposure, high number of moles, having an organ transplant, etc.
• Melanoma signs and symptoms may include fatigue, swollen or painful lymph nodes, bone pain, headaches, seizures, and swelling of the liver.
• The stage of a cancer at diagnosis will indicate how far it has already spread and what kind of treatment will be suitable. One method of assigning a stage to melanoma describes the cancer in five stages, from 0 to 4. The more advanced a cancer is, the harder it is to treat and the worse the outlook becomes.
Source:- Uveal Melanoma Symptoms