Due to a brown stain that crossed the nail of the thumb of the right hand, Maria Sylvia, 26, went viral on TikTok. Despite looking harmless, the mark was actually a subungual melanoma.
Nail melanoma, also called subungual, is a rare type of cancer and can be noticed by the presence of a dark vertical spot on the nail that increases over time.
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Maria says that, as an athlete, she was always going through medical appointments and physical exams. She first noticed the stain in 2012, when it was still light and soft-edged. In 2014, a doctor noticed the line on the patient’s nail and asked her to see a specialist if the mark changed in size.
Even without feeling pain and thinking it was a wart, she went to the doctor at the encouragement of friends to have a biopsy, a procedure that removes part of the nail to determine the cause of the problem. It was only then that she discovered that the line was, in fact, a cancer.
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Skin cancer is the most incident type of cancer in the country, according to the National Cancer Institute (Inca). The disease can appear anywhere on the body and, when identified early, has a good chance of being cured.
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Exaggerated and unprotected sun exposure throughout life, in addition to episodes of sunburn, is the main risk factor for skin cancer. According to Inca, there are several types of the disease, which are generally classified as melanoma and non-melanoma
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Non-melanoma cases are more frequent and have high cure rates. In addition, this is the most common type in people over 40 and with fair skin.
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Melanoma, in turn, has fewer registered cases and is more serious, due to the possibility of spreading to other parts of the body. That’s why it’s important to make periodic visits to the dermatologist and ask about suspicious signs.
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Despite being a health problem that can affect anyone, there are profiles that are more prone to developing skin cancer, such as: having light skin, hair and eyes, family history of the disease, having multiple moles on the body, being an immunosuppressed and/or transplanted patient
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According to experts, it is important to investigate whenever a mole or mole has asymmetry, a rough or irregular edge, two or more colors, has a diameter greater than six millimeters, or changes in size over time. All of these signs can indicate the presence of a melanoma.
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The first signs of non-melanone tend to look like a discolored lump, spot or sore that does not heal and continues to grow. In addition, it may still look smooth and shiny and/or look like a wart.
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The mole can cause itching, scabs, erosions, or bleeding over weeks or even years. In most cases, this cancer is red and firm and can develop into an ulcer. Marks look like scars and tend to be flat and scaly
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Skin cancer usually appears in parts of the body where there is greater exposure to the sun, and is very much associated with inadequate protection with sunscreens.
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According to the National Cancer Institute, non-melanone tends to be completely cured when detected early. It rarely spreads to other parts of the body, but if not identified in time, it can spread to deeper layers of the skin, making it difficult to treat.
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The diagnosis of skin cancer is made by the dermatologist through clinical examination. In certain situations, it may be necessary to carry out the exam known as “Dermoscopy”, which consists of using a device that allows you to visualize layers of the skin not seen with the naked eye. In more specific situations it is necessary to perform a biopsy
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According to the Ministry of Health, “oncological surgery is the most suitable treatment to treat skin cancer for the removal of the lesion, which, in the early stages, can be performed without hospitalization”
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Still according to the folder, “in the most advanced cases, however, the treatment will vary according to the condition in which the tumor is found, and radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be indicated, in addition to surgery”
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Among the recommendations for preventing skin cancer are: avoiding exposure to the sun, using sunglasses with UV protection, as well as umbrellas, umbrellas, wide-brimmed hats and clothes that protect the body. In addition, of course, to the daily use of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more.
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Maria said that the dark spot grew under the nail, where the cancerous tissue used to be. “Melanoma can remain in a stage called in situ, which is like stage zero, for up to 13 years,” she says.
The woman underwent surgery to remove the nail and part of the bone and, after doing several tests, it was determined that there were no more cancerous cells in the region.
After the scare, Maria advises anyone with strange spots to see a doctor. “Most of the time, you’re probably fine. This is a very rare cancer, especially for my demographic,” she says.
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Skin melanoma, according to the National Cancer Institute (Inca), is considered the most aggressive type of skin cancer, as it has a high possibility of spreading to neighboring tissues and organs. In 2022, 8,980 cases were registered in Brazil.
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The post Woman discovers nail stain was a rare type of cancer. Understand first appeared on Metropolis.
