When most people think of malignant melanoma, the first thing that comes to mind is skin cancer. But malignant melanoma can occur in a lot of places, including the colon and rectum.
Skin Cancer Can Give Me Colon Cancer?
Malignant melanoma is notorious for its ability to spread to other organs. Usually when it's found in the colon or rectum, it has spread there from somewhere else. So yes, skin cancer can give a person colorectal cancer, but it's unlikely. Malignant melanoma of the colon and rectum accounts for less than two percent of all colorectal cancers.
Symptoms of Malignant Melanoma
If it does spread, it can take anywhere from two months to 12 years for symptoms of colon or rectal cancer to show up after the original melanoma is diagnosed. Symptoms of malignant melanoma of the colon or rectum include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, and weight loss. On average, if melanoma spreads to the colon or rectum, these symptoms show up in five years.
Take-Home Message
If you've ever been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, you may want to talk to your doctor about getting screened for colorectal cancer, just to make sure you're in the clear.
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