Is it dangerous for a melanoma patient to get pregnant?

According to the British Daily Mail on January 20, the latest research shows that the mortality rate of women diagnosed with melanoma during pregnancy or within one year of childbirth is five times higher than that of ordinary women. Melanoma is the most deadly skin cancer. Most melanoma tumors are brown or black, and a few are pink, tan or white. Direct exposure to ultraviolet rays is the main factor causing melanoma.

Experts believe that estrogen is the culprit for the high mortality rate. The results of the study showed that the metastasis, recurrence and mortality of melanoma in pregnant women and primiparas were higher than those in ordinary women.

In recent years, the number of young female patients with melanoma has continued to increase. Experts recommend that women under 50 years old go to the hospital for regular skin examinations or self-examinations.

Melanoma is more likely to occur during pregnancy, but pregnancy does not increase the possibility of a mole becoming malignant. During pregnancy, the shape and size of a mole often change. The following danger signs indicate that a mole has become malignant: changes in size, color, redness, whiteness, or blueness, especially the spread of the pigmented area to the surrounding normal skin; changes in surface features, texture, and shape; especially inflammation of the skin around the mole, which may cause bleeding, ulcers, itching, or pain.

Pregnant women can ensure the normal development of the fetus' bones by getting more sun exposure. However, due to pregnancy, they are more sensitive to UVA in sunlight that can cause tanning. After exposure to the sun, they will have more pigmentation than other people. For example, existing moles will begin to expand, facial freckles will also become more serious, and some moles may even turn into melanoma. Therefore, while eating more fruits and vegetables with high vitamin C content, pregnant women are best to use sunscreen with physical sunscreen ingredients, because it has fewer chemical ingredients, is very natural, does not contain lead, and has no effect on the fetus.

Pregnant women can choose mild fruits such as apples, cherries, strawberries, peaches, oranges, etc., but be careful not to eat too much, preferably no more than 500 grams a day. Pregnant women with diabetes should reduce the amount by half. It is best to eat fruits between two meals, which can not only supplement vitamins in time, but also will not hinder the intake of other nutrients.

Therefore, pregnant women should pay special attention to physical care during pregnancy, have regular physical examinations, and seek treatment immediately if any abnormality is found. If the situation is serious, it is best to induce labor, which will not cause too much harm to the baby. It is also a better treatment for adults so as not to cause too much psychological burden.