Melanoma
is less common than other skin cancers but is by far the most dangerous if not
found early, causing the majority (75%) of deaths related to skin cancer. More than 76,000 cases of melanoma are
diagnosed in the US every year. If the
cancer is found in the early stages, it can usually be removed with
surgery. If the melanoma has spread, it
will need to be treated with chemo- and immunotherapy, or radiation therapy.
Melanomas begin in the melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) and are caused by UV damage and genetic factors. They may appear suddenly on the skin or develop from an existing mole. Early signs of melanoma are summarized by the mnemonic “ABCDE”:
Asymmetry
Borders
(irregular edges that are notched, uneven, or blurred)
Color
(different shades of brown, black, or tan)
Diameter
(>6mm, the size of a pencil eraser)
Evolving
over time
