MELANOMA

BY JORDAN PERSON

Each month we study a specific topic or disease. As you read the title of this article, you may be asking yourself, “What does melanoma have to do with Parkinson’s disease?” Well, there is actually a surprising link between the two. 1 A study done a decade ago showed that melanoma prevalence appears to be higher in patients with PD than in the general population. Another study stated that there was an increased risk for melanoma for PD patients using the drug levodopa. 2 Levodopa, is a drug commonly prescribed to PD patients, and it impacts the body’s creation of melanin and melanocytes. The association between PD and melanoma may be explained by pigmentation changes in melanin and/or melanin synthesis.

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and is the most common type of cancer worldwide. 3 In the U.S., 10,000 new cases are diagnosed every day, and two patients die every hour. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops when the cells that give the skin its tan or brown color, known as melanocytes, start to grow out of control. 4 Melanoma has the potential to metastasize anywhere in the body.

Standard treatment for melanoma includes surgical removal of the area in question. Depending on the size of the lesion, radiation and chemotherapy are often used in conjunction with surgery. Various intravenous treatments and injections are used when needed as well. These invasive treatments can be exhausting, especially if the patient has any other conditions or is immunocompromised. Thanks to current studies and the advancements in alternative medicine, we are beginning to see the promising effects of other plant medicines when it comes to the prevention and treatment of melanoma.

We are what we eat, and according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, there are certain phytonutrients (plant based nutrients) that we can eat to help prevent skin cancer. Those nutrients include, “vitamins C, E, and A, zinc, selenium, beta carotene (carotenoids), omega-3 fatty acids, lycopene and polyphenols.” 5 Many dermatologists recommend high amounts of these antioxidants in your diet to help prevent skin cancer. There are many plants and herbs that contain these nutrients. Herbs, spices, and composite herbal medicines are among the categories that contain the most antioxidants, and there have been over 3,500 identified. 6

One of those herbal medicines is cannabis. The cannabinoid receptors in our ECS are located in every cell in our bodies. 7 CB1 receptors are present in the nervous system and CB2 receptors are located in the peripheral nervous system. Interestingly, human melanomas and melanoma cell lines express both CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. In a study published by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

(FASEB), “Activation of these receptors decreased growth, proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis, and increased apoptosis, of melanomas in mice.” 8 This is promising research for using phytocannabinoids for the treatment of melanoma.

In another study published in 2019 in the Journal of Surgical Research, 9 cannabinoid therapy was introduced to malignant melanoma tumors in mice. The cannabinoid CBD was injected into melanoma tumors in mice, and the tumors shrunk significantly in size. 9 Cannabinoids are proving to be a unique source of treatment based on their targeted action on cancer cells and their ability to spare normal cells. 10 These findings should guide research and assist scientists to better understand the mechanisms by which cannabinoids could be utilized as an adjunctive treatment of cancer.

In closing, skin cancer is nothing to ignore. It can be 100% effectively treated if caught in time. There is a simple way to keep track of any moles, birthmarks, freckles, or any area on your body that has more pigmentation than other parts, we can call it the skin cancer alphabet. If you pay attention to the letters in this mnemonic device you can put your mind at ease by knowing what to look for and making note of any changes. If you feel like something is different, schedule an appointment with your primary doctor or dermatologist. You can never be too safe when it comes to the prevention and treatment of melanoma.

SKIN CANCER ALPHABET

Mayo Clinic Minute: The A, B, C, D, Es of Skin Cancer.

A

ASYMMETRY Are the sides equal?

B

BORDER Is there a clearly defined edge?

C

COLOR What color is it and is it changing?

D

DIAMETER How big is it and is it growing in size?

E

EVOLVING Are there any other changes you have noticed?