What is melanoma?

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can be very serious. It occurs when normal skin cells change into abnormal cells and grow uncontrollably. Melanoma can appear anywhere on the skin, including hard-to-see areas like the back, as well as on the skin lining the mouth, nose, and genitals. If left untreated, melanoma can spread to other organs in the body. It can also run in families.

What are symptoms of melanoma?

Melanoma often looks like a brown or black mole or birthmark, but it has features that distinguish it from normal moles and birthmarks. One way to remember these features is to think of the letters A, B, C, D, and E:

• Asymmetry: one half of the mole looks different from the other half.

• Border: the mole has a jagged or uneven edge.

• Color: the mole has a mix of colors, such as brown, black, and red.

• Diameter: the mole is larger than the eraser on the end of a pencil.

• Evolution: the mole’s size, color, or shape can change over time.

Melanomas can also turn into sores that bleed.

While many moles and birthmarks are normal and not melanoma, if you have a mole or birthmark that you think might be abnormal, it’s important to show it to your dermatologist.

Melanoma Tests

If your dermatologist suspects that you have melanoma, they will perform a skin exam and check your entire body. You may also have a follow-up test called a biopsy. During a biopsy, a doctor will usually remove the entire abnormal area. In some cases, the doctor might instead take a small sample of skin from the abnormal area. Either way, another doctor will look at the skin that is removed under a microscope to see if the cells are melanoma.

Staging is a way for doctors to determine how deep in the skin and how far inside the body the melanoma has spread. The right treatment for you will depend on the stage of your melanoma, as well as your age and other health factors.

Melanoma Treatment

Melanoma is usually treated with a combination of therapies, depending on the stage of the cancer. The following are some of the most common treatments for melanoma: 

• Surgery: Surgery is the primary treatment for melanoma. During surgery, the doctor removes the cancerous tissue and may also check nearby lymph nodes to see if the melanoma has spread inside the body.

• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that works with the body’s immune system to stop cancer growth.

• Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy is a group of medicines that work only on cancers with certain characteristics. These medicines usually work by blocking a specific protein or molecule.

• Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells.

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.

The right treatment for you will depend on the stage of your melanoma and other factors. Your doctor will help you decide which treatment is best for you.

Melanoma Prevention

To reduce the risk of melanoma, it is important to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Here are some tips to help you stay safe in the sun:

• Stay out of the sun in the middle of the day: The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If possible, avoid being outside during these hours.

• Wear sunscreen: Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to all exposed skin. Reapply every two hours, or more often if you are swimming or sweating.

• Wear protective clothing: Wear a wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, or long pants to protect your skin from the sun.

• Avoid tanning beds: Tanning beds can increase your risk of melanoma and other skin cancers.

Some people are at higher risk for melanoma than others. You might be at higher risk if you have family members who have had melanoma or if you have had certain abnormal moles in the past. In this case, your doctor might recommend checking your skin yourself every month to look for any changes, plus getting an exam once a year.