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Skin Disease: Malignant Melanoma

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The skin is the largest organ the human body has, covering around 22 square feet of skin and weighing an average of 6.6 pounds. It contains 3 different layers which involve the dermis, the epidermis, and the subcutaneous tissue. The skin performs multiple functions such as being a barrier from bacteria and virus’ entering your body and allowing you to sense the world. It also acts as the receiver of the harmful UV radiation to prevent your body from receiving it. This at times causes a dangerous build-up of UV radiation hitting the dermis of the skin and resulting in the skin cancer known as melanoma (Owens 2014). Also known as malignant melanoma, melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer that occurs when DNA damage to the skin causes …show more content…
Melanoma begins at the very top of the skin in the epidermis, however as the stages continue to progress it goes deeper and deeper into the dermis where it can invade lymph nodes and other parts of the body such as the lungs, liver, brains, etc. Melanoma can be almost unidentifiable during the early stages as there are little to no signs of spreading 2mm deep into the skin. As time continues, it can reach up to stage 3 before it can be removed however during stage 3 and higher the melanoma cells will return guaranteed after surgery and will require additional …show more content…
These stages also provide proper medication because of the slow mitotic rate of the melanocytes and can be the least lethal. At stage 1 the melanocytes have grown around 4 mm thick and have now entered the dermis of the skin but not the lymph nodes. Stage 1 is able to be removed with surgery if need be and can also be treated with medicine (Holmes 2014). Stage 2 has now reached the lymph nodes and will definitely come back if removed by surgery as the melanocytes are still present in the lymph nodes and can still divide and take up the same or greater space. These stages are not lethal but can become lethal if it reaches up to stage 3 melanoma. Stage 3 melanoma has now spread to other parts of the bodies and treatment option can vary depending on the affected areas. (Owens 2014) Stage 3 is now lethal and if left long without treatment can kill the

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