What is Melanoma?

Melanoma is a serious skin cancer, which is curable if detected early. Sometimes called cutaneous melanoma or malignant melanoma, melanoma grows from pigment cells (melanocytes) in the outer layer of the skin and mucous membranes (epidermis). Melanoma is a more serious type of cancer than the more common skin cancers, basal cell cancer or squamous cell cancer, which begin in the basal or squamous cells of the epidermis.

Melanoma accounts for about 4 percent of all diagnosed cancers. It usually occurs in adults, but it may occasionally be found in children and adolescents. Men most often get melanoma on the trunk (the area of the body between the shoulders and hips) or on the head or neck; women most often get melanoma on the arms and legs.

Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer as it can rapidly spread to the lymph system and internal organs. (Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body; they produce and store infection-fighting cells.) In the United States alone, approximately one person dies from melanoma every hour.

With early detection and proper treatment, the cure rate for melanoma is about 95%. Once its spreads, the prognosis is poor. You should see your doctor if you have any of the following warning signs of melanoma change in the size, shape, or color of a mole; oozing or bleeding from a mole; or a mole that feels itchy, hard, lumpy, swollen, or tender to the touch. Melanoma most often develops in a pre-existing mole or looks like a new mole, which is why it is important for people to know what their moles look like and be able to detect changes to existing moles and spot new moles.

ABCD’s of Melanoma

Asymmetry – One half doesn’t look like the other half Borders – Uneven, notched or fuzzy Color – More than one color or shade Diameter – Greater than ¼ of an inch

If you have signs of skin cancer, your doctor will examine your skin carefully. If a mole or pigmented area doesn't look normal, your doctor will cut it out (called local excision) and look at it under the microscope to see if it contains cancer. This is usually done in a doctor's office. It is important that this biopsy is done correctly.