WHAT IS THE COMMON TREATMENT AND OUTCOME FOR NASOPHARYNGEAL TUMORS? The diagnosis of nasopharyngeal tumors is made from a biopsy of the primary site or lymph node. The stage of the disease is determined to provide treatment options. Surgery can be difficult in the area of the nose and throat, and radiation therapy is often the first line of treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Chemotherapy may also be used because nasopharyngeal tumors respond well to several chemotherapy agents. Patients with small tumors that are within the nasopharynx have a better prognosis for cure.
MALIGNANT MELANOMA
WHAT IS MALIGNANT MELANOMA?
Melanoma is a cancer of the skin that arises from cells that give the color to our skin, hair, and eyes. While most of these cancers are located in the skin, they can occur in the eye. Melanoma is the most serious skin cancer. Only 1% of melanoma cancer occurs in people younger than 20 years old.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MALIGNANT MELANOMA?
The symptoms and warning signs for melanoma are often referred to as the ABCDEs, which is a way to check moles on the skin: A = Asymmetry—The two halves of the mole do not match.
B = Border irregularity—The mole’s borders are irregular or fuzzy rather than sharp. C = Color variegation—In addition to brown and black, other colors are present.
D = Diameter—The mole is bigger than the eraser on a pencil. E = Evolving—The mole has changed in size, shape, or color.
WHAT CAUSES MALIGNANT MELANOMA?
Because there are so few cases of malignant melanoma in children, very few studies for children have been done. However, children appear to have the same risk factors as adults, including having a relative who had melanoma the presence of many moles or unusual moles a history of skin cancer (treated with medication that decreases immune system function) fair skin and sun sensitivity a history of sunburns a history of excessive use of tanning beds.
Additional risk factors in children include the presence of melanoma at birth
the presence of a giant mole (giant congenital nevus)
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