(845) 802-0047Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and is a malignant tumor that develops on the skin. After melanoma spreads beyond its original location on the skin, it is virtually incurable. Only 36% of persons suffering from metastatic melanoma are alive one year after the diagnosis. This is scary stuff and diagnosing melanoma in its earliest stage is crucial to your survival.
If you or a loved one have been misdiagnosed, it is crucial to contact a skin cancer misdiagnosis lawyer to discuss and build your case.
Detecting Skin Cancer
When you have an abnormal growth of your skin, you should go to a dermatologist. Chances are that you do not have skin cancer, but a biopsy of the abnormal growth is the only way to know for sure.
The signs of melanoma are characterized as A, B, C and D: Asymmetry of one half of the abnormal skin growth is different than the other half; Borders: The lesion or growth has irregular border edges; Color changes from one area to another, with shades of tan, black or brown. A mixture of colors may appear within one sore; and Diameter: The trouble spot is usually larger than 6 millimeters–about the size of a pencil eraser. Call your doctor if a skin growth changes in color, size or texture.
How Should You Check for Skin Cancer?
You should inspect your skin once a month for new growths and any change in the appearance of a skin sore is a warning sign. Also, watch for any bleeding from a skin growth. The chance of a cure is greatest when the tumor is small and can be entirely removed surgically.
Preventing Skin Cancer
Sounds like common sense, but you should always use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher and minimize sun exposure. The highest rates of skin cancer occur in warm weather climates, such as Florida and Australia.
Avoid tanning beds! Tanning beds are carcinogenic, according to a 2009 study by the World Health Organization. People who begin using tanning devices before age 30 are 75% more likely to develop skin cancer.
If you have an immediate family member who has been diagnosed with melanoma, you are at increased risk. Certain genes increase your risk of melanoma and you may want to have genetic testing performed to assess your risk of melanoma.
Why is Skin Cancer and Melanoma So Deadly?
When skin cancer, such as melanoma, spreads from the surface of the skin (epidermis) to the lymph nodes, the cancer is almost incurable. The melanoma spreads from the lymph nodes through the bloodstream where it attacks vital organs, such as the brain, liver, lungs, and kidneys. A diagnosis of metastatic melanoma is close to a death sentence, so the goal is prevention and early detection.
Contact a Skin Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer
Skin cancer and especially melanoma can be deadly. If misdiagnosed, it is important to get in touch with a skin cancer misdiagnosis lawyer immediately.