Is nodular melanoma small?
Nodular melanoma usually appears as a small black lump. It is more common in men and people older than 60. Melanoma often results from exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays.
How common is melanoma in 30 year olds?
On age related cancers, melanoma is the #1 most diagnosed cancer among 25 to 29 year olds in the United States. For 15 to 29 year olds, it is the 3rd most common for men and 4th most common for women. The average age of people diagnosed with melanoma is 63. But melanoma is not uncommon even among those younger than 30.
How do I know if I have nodular melanoma?
A dermatologist will check your skin. If a spot or bump looks suspicious, you’ll get a biopsy. That’s when the doctor removes some or all of the growth and sends the tissue to a lab for testing. A doctor called a pathologist will look at the tissue and cells under a microscope to check if it’s nodular melanoma.
How does nodular melanoma start?
Nodular melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It begins when the melanocytes in the skin grow out of control and form tumors. Melanocytes are the cells responsible for making melanin, the pigment that determines the color of the skin.
Can you have nodular melanoma for years?
The duration of lesions before diagnosis is relatively short, ranging from a few months to 2 years [4]. Nodular melanoma often presents as an expanding darkly pigmented cutaneous nodular lesion, usually found on the sun-exposed areas of the skin, with far fewer such lesions occurring in covered areas.
Does nodular melanoma grow in diameter?
Nodular melanoma presents as a rapidly enlarging lump (over several weeks to months). The characteristics of nodular melanoma include: Larger size than most moles – >6 mm and often a centimetre or more in diameter at diagnosis. Dome-shaped, often symmetrical firm lump.
Are nodular melanomas itchy?
Melanomas are uncommon in areas that are protected from sun exposure, such as the buttocks and the scalp. In most cases, melanomas have an irregular shape and are more than 1 colour. The mole may also be larger than normal and can sometimes be itchy or bleed.
Is nodular melanoma always fatal?
Nodular melanoma tends to spread rapidly and eventually metastasize to vital organs. It may be fatal within months of recognition.
How fast can nodular melanoma grow?
Nodular melanomas typically grow very quickly. New freckles or moles typically develop and stop growing within a few weeks. New developments that continue to grow after two or three weeks may be melanoma.