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Melanoma is a malignant form of skin cancer that occurs in cells called melanocytes, which produce pigments that give skin its color. Melanoma usually appears as an irregular brown, black and/or red spot, or an existing mole that begins to change color, size or shape. While melanoma only represents about 3% of all skin cancers, it has the highest death rate of all types, and is more likely to metastasize (spread).
Melanoma appears most frequently on the trunk area in fair-skinned men and on the lower leg in fair-skinned women. In dark-skinned people, melanoma appears most frequently on the palms, the soles of the feet and the skin under nails. If caught early, melanoma is potentially curable.
Symptoms of Melanoma
Any pigmented lesion that undergoes a change in size, configuration, or color should be biopsied. The ABCDEs of early diagnosis are an easy way to become familiar with the early signs of malignant melanoma:
- Asymmetry of lesion
- Border irregularity
- Color variegation
- Diameter greater than 6 millimeters
- Elevation: is the lesion growing in height?
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M. D. Anderson's Screening Guideline
(Updated February 2006)
Promptly show your doctor any:
- Suspicious skin area
- Non-healing sore
- Change in a mole or freckle
Skin Chart
Print out this skin chart (pdf) and mark your moles, freckles, blemishes, birthmarks and other skin growths once a month. If you detect changes, contact your physician.
Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Tips
- Southern Exposure - Skin cancer prevention tips.
- Get to Know Your Moles - Spending a few minutes becoming familiar with your moles and learning how to distinguish normal moles from possibly abnormal growths is the key to early detection of skin cancer.
- How to do a Skin Self-Exam - Follow these easy step-by-step instructions.
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Patient Story
- Sandy Pierce: "I view it as my greatest accomplishment that I fought cancer, kept my sense of humor and I'm still here today."
Survivor Support
Cancer Newsline Video: Metastatic Melanoma
(Spring 2005)
Researchers at M. D. Anderson are studying a monoclonal antibody to treat metastatic melanoma – without the toxic side effects of chemotherapy.
Windows Media: 256K / 56K
QuickTime: 256K / 56K
Project Safety - Skin cancer education materials for schoolteachers at all grade levels.
Practice Guidelines - Select Skin, then Melanoma.
Melanoma SPORE - Learn about the Melanoma SPORE, that will look into promising leads in the areas of risk, genetics, biology of progression, immunity and novel therapies. |
