Dapat ipakunsulta ng sinuman ang kanyang nunal kung ito ay: 1.) Lumalaki; 2.) Nagbabago ang hugis, kulay o kung ang pigmentation ay iregular; 3.) Namamaga; at 4.) Nangangati o nagdurugo.
Ang malignant melanoma o ang nunal na nagiging cancerous ang kinatatakutan sa lahat ng mga skin cancers. Ito ay mas aggressive at hindi nahuhulaan ang pattern ng behavior kumpara sa ibang cancers. They present as pigmented skin lesions which itch and bleed. The lesions are usually on sun-exposed areas and their irregular pattern of pigmentation specially at the edge of the lesion together with ulceration are ominous signs. Regional nodes should palpated for enlargement and signs of spread such as enlargement of the liver, fluid in the lungs and neurological signs should be looked for.
Ang insidente ng melanoma ay dumadami dahil sa palagiang exposure ng mga tao sa araw lalo na kung katanghaliang tapat. Matindi ang ultraviolet rays kung tanghali dahil sa reduction ng ozone layer. Ang mga Caucasians ay mas madalas maapektuhan ng melanoma subalit maging dito sa Pilipinas ay marami na ring may sakit na ganito. Ang mga taong may fair skin at freckles ganoon din ang mga blonds at redheads ay mas madaling magkaroon ng melanoma.
As far as diagnosis is concerned, I suggest an excision biopsy where the lesions is removed and sent to the laboratory for histopath exam. Treatment of early lesions is surgery with a wide excision all the way down to the subcutaneos fat. Melanomas as considered resistant to radiation treatment as well chemotheraphy although in a few cases (15 percent) response has been shown to the giving of antiestrogen Tamoxifen when given for metastatic disease.
Secondary infection is a possible complication which predisposes to local discomfort, discharge and bleeding. The giving of immunotheraphy such as Interferon may cause headache, malaise, fever, muscular weakness, depression, hypotension, hypothyroidism and renal failure.
Because of the poor survival rates, early detection of malignant melanoma is extremely important.