Overview

Melanoma is a skin cancer of the melanocytes, the cells that produce skin color and give moles their dark color. Under normal conditions, moles are benign skin tumors. Sometimes, however, a mole can develop into melanoma. A new mole may also be an early melanoma.

Melanoma skin cancers are less common than carcinoma skin cancers. But melanomas are more dangerous because they are far more likely to spread to other parts of the body.

Cancer occurs when cells in the body (in this case skin cells) divide without control or order. Normally, cells divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing uncontrollably when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms, called a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant tumors, which can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor is unable to invade or spread.

Title
Melanoma

Types
Symptoms

Melanomas are not usually painful. The first sign of melanoma is often a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of an existing mole. Melanomas also may appear as a new, black, discolored or abnormal mole. It's important to remember that most people have moles, and almost all moles are benign.

The following are signs that a mole may be a melanoma:

Uneven Shape -The shape of one half does match the shape of the other half.

Ragged Edges - The edges are ragged, notched, blurred, or irregular and the pigment may spread into surrounding skin.

Uneven Color - The color is uneven with shades of black, brown or tan, and possibly even white, gray, pink, red or blue.

Change in Size - The mole changes in size, usually growing larger. Melanomas are usually larger than the eraser of a pencil (5 mm or 1/4 inch).

Change in Texture - The mole may begin to have fine scales. In more advanced cases, a mole may become hard or lumpy.

Itching - The mole may start to itch, or in more advanced cases it may ooze or bleed

Causes

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. But artificial radiation from sun lamps and tanning booths can also cause skin cancer.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on symptoms and medical history and a physical exam. A biopsy (tissue sample) of any suspicious moles is sent to a laboratory for testing. A comprehensive exam of lymph nodes in the groin, underarm, neck, or areas near the suspicious mole has to be done. Enlarged lymph nodes may suggest the spread of a melanoma.

Treatment

Once melanoma is found, tests are performed to find out if cancer has spread and, if so, to what extent. Treatment for melanoma depends on whether cancer has spread. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy (uses drugs to kill cancer cell), biological therapy (medications or substances made by the body to increase or restore the body's natural defenses against cancer), and radiation therapy or radiotherapy ( use of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors).

Prevention

To reduce the chance of getting melanoma:

  • Avoid spending too much time in the sun.
  • Protect the skin from the sun with clothing, including a shirt, sunglasses, and a hat with a broad brim.
  • Use sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more on skin that will be exposed to the sun.
  • Avoid exposing your skin to the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. standard time, or 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daylight savings time.
  • Don't use sun lamps or tanning booths.

Take the following precautions to find melanoma in its early stages:

  • If there is a mole that looks similar to the ones described above, consult health professionals.
  • If there are many moles or a family history of melanoma, do regular checks of the skin to detect changes in moles.

Ask health professionals to show you how to do a skin self-exam.

Complications
Risks

Risk factors that increase the chance of getting a melanoma are:

  • Certain types of moles called dysplastic nevi, or atypical moles. These types of moles look somewhat like melanoma.  
  • Large nevi present at birth
  • Age: Peak incidence in early adulthood and again later in life
  • Fair skin
  • Red or blonde hair
  • Light-coloured eyes
  • Family members with melanoma
  • Excessive skin exposure to the sun without protective clothing or sunscreen

Suppression of the immune system caused either by disease or treatment

Recovery
Living with
Self-help