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Metastatic melanoma corresponds to the most severe stage of melanoma, as it is characterized by the spread of tumor cells to other parts of the body, mainly liver, lung and bones, making treatment more difficult and potentially compromising the person's life.
This type of melanoma is also known as stage III melanoma or stage IV melanoma, and most of the time it only happens when the diagnosis of melanoma was late or not made and the start of treatment was impaired. Thus, as there was no control of cell proliferation, these malignant cells can reach other organs, characterizing the disease.
Symptoms of metastatic melanoma
Symptoms of metastatic melanoma vary according to where the metastasis occurs, and can be:
- Fatigue;
- Difficulty breathing;
- Weight loss with no apparent cause;
- Dizziness;
- Loss of appetite;
- Lymph node enlargement;
- Bone pain.
In addition, the characteristic signs and symptoms of melanoma can be noticed, such as the presence of signs on the skin that have irregular edges, different colors and that can increase over time. Learn how to recognize the symptoms of melanoma.
Why it happens
Metastatic melanoma occurs mainly when melanoma is not identified in the early stages, when the diagnosis is not made or when treatment is not carried out the way it should have been. This favors the proliferation of malignant cells, as well as their spread to other parts of the body, such as lungs, liver, bones and gastrointestinal tract, characterizing metastasis.
In addition, some factors may favor the development of metastatic melanoma, such as genetic factors, lighter skin, frequent exposure to ultraviolet radiation, presence of primary melanoma that has not been removed, and decreased immune system activity due to other diseases.
How is the treatment
Metastatic melanoma has no cure, but treatment aims to decrease the rate of cell replication and, in this way, alleviate symptoms, delay the spread and progression of the disease, and increase life expectancy and quality of life. of the person.
Thus, according to the stage of the melanoma, the physician may choose to carry out targeted therapy, for example, which aims to act directly on the altered gene, preventing or decreasing the replication rate cells and preventing disease progression. In addition, surgery and chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be recommended in an attempt to eliminate the cancer cells that are spread. Understand how melanoma is treated.
