Experts have highlighted the importance of recognizing skin marks as potential indicators of serious health conditions.
The recent diagnosis of ‘multiple’ brain tumors in Teddi Mellencamp, star of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, has drawn attention to a condition that can have severe consequences if not addressed promptly.
Mellencamp disclosed she has several malignant growths in her brain following weeks of severe headaches, with medical professionals suggesting these tumors have been developing over the past six months.
At 43 years old and having undergone 16 surgeries, Mellencamp is believed to have a form of cancer that has metastasized to her brain, leading to the formation of these tumors.
In 2022, she was diagnosed with stage two melanoma, a type of skin cancer that affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States annually.
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that, according to the Mayo Clinic, “begins in the melanocytes.”
The Mayo Clinic further explains: “Melanocytes are cells that produce the pigment giving skin its color. This pigment is called melanin.”
“Melanoma commonly occurs on skin regularly exposed to the sun, such as on the arms, back, face, and legs. It can also develop in the eyes and, though rare, inside the body, such as in the nose or throat.”
According to AIM at Melanoma, “more than 60% of all Stage IV melanoma patients will develop brain metastases at some point,” highlighting a significant risk.
Specialists caution that particular skin appearances might indicate melanoma without one’s knowledge.
Typically, melanoma spots are irregularly shaped, brown or black in color, and have uneven patches.
The Moffitt Cancer Center notes that melanoma moles differ in shape, size, or color from benign moles and need to be examined.
These moles often feature uneven coloration with tan, brown, or black areas that evolve over time.
Unfortunately, instances of melanoma are increasing in the United States, resulting in the deaths of up to 8,000 individuals each year.
This aggressive cancer spreads swiftly within the body, often evading early detection.
Brain metastasis from melanoma can lead to symptoms such as headaches, seizures, visual disturbances, one-sided paralysis, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes, weakness, and fatigue, according to the Moffitt Cancer Center.
Alarmingly, having skin cancer might increase the risk of developing other unrelated cancers.
Individuals with melanoma may be more prone to other cancers, including breast, kidney, and thyroid cancers.
Treatment for melanoma that has spread to the brain may involve chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and targeted therapy.
As stated by AIM to Melanoma: “Surgery is a standard treatment for melanoma brain metastases. It can potentially cure patients whose melanoma is otherwise stable and who have a limited number of brain metastases.”
However, “surgery is reserved for patients with fewer than three metastases” and “patients with numerous tumors or tumors located in critical brain regions are generally not suitable for surgery.”