Melanoma

Summary

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of a mole. Most melanomas have a black or black-blue area. Melanoma may also appear as a new mole. It may be black, abnormal, or “ugly looking.”

Thinking of “ABCDE” can help you remember what to watch for:

• Asymmetry – the shape of one half does not match the other
• Border – the edges are ragged, blurred or irregular
• Color – the color is uneven and may include shades of black, brown and tan
• Diameter – there is a change in size, usually an increase
• Evolving – the mole has changed over the past few weeks or months

Surgery is the first treatment of all stages of melanoma. Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation, biologic, and targeted therapies. Biologic therapy boosts your body’s own ability to fight cancer. Targeted therapy uses substances that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

National Cancer Institute

Statistics and Research

• Advances in Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers Research National Cancer Institute
• Cancer Stat Facts: Melanoma of the Skin National Cancer Institute
• Melanoma of the Skin Statistics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Some Melanomas May Start in Hair Follicles National Institutes of Health
• What’s New in Research and Treatment of Melanoma Skin Cancer? American Cancer Society

Patient Handouts

• After chemotherapy – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Melanoma Medical Encyclopedia
• Melanoma of the eye Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
• Find a Dermatologist American Academy of Dermatology
• National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute

Diagnosis and Tests

• BRAF Genetic Test National Library of Medicine
• Lymphoscintigraphy Radiological Society of North America
• PDL1 (Immunotherapy) Tests National Library of Medicine
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy National Library of Medicine
• Skin Biopsy VisualDX
• Skin Cancer Screening National Library of Medicine
• Skin Cancer Screening National Cancer Institute
• Stages of Melanoma National Cancer Institute
• Tests for Melanoma Skin Cancer American Cancer Society

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• Cancer: Putting Health First
• Finding Skin Cancer: Why Routine Checkups Can Make All the Difference
• Young Woman Fights Melanoma and Gives Back

Children

• Childhood Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma Treatment National Cancer Institute
• Childhood Melanoma Treatment National Cancer Institute

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Intraocular (Eye) Melanoma National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Melanoma National Institutes of Health

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Common Moles, Dysplastic Nevi, and Risk of Melanoma National Cancer Institute
• Detect Skin Cancer: Body Mole Map American Academy of Dermatology
• Skin Cancer Prevention National Cancer Institute

Reference Desk

• Dictionary of Cancer Terms National Cancer Institute

Treatments and Therapies

• Drugs Approved for Melanoma National Cancer Institute
• Treatment Option Overview (Melanoma) National Cancer Institute

Related Issues

• FDA Proposes New Safety Measures for Indoor Tanning Devices: The Facts Food and Drug Administration
• Moles: Overview American Academy of Dermatology
• What Causes Melanoma Skin Cancer? American Cancer Society

Specifics

• General Information about Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma National Cancer Institute
• Ocular Melanoma American Academy of Ophthalmology

Start Here

• General Information about Melanoma National Cancer Institute
• Melanoma American Academy of Dermatology
• What Is Melanoma Skin Cancer? American Cancer Society

Genetics

• Giant congenital melanocytic nevus: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Melanoma: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Living With

• Living as a Melanoma Skin Cancer Survivor American Cancer Society

Teenagers

• Melanoma Nemours Foundation

Images

• Melanoma VisualDX
• What Does a Mole Look Like? National Cancer Institute
• What Does Melanoma Look Like? National Cancer Institute

Journal Articles

• Melanoma

Español/Spanish

• Risk Factors for Melanoma Skin Cancer American Cancer Society

Encyclopedia

• Urine melanin test Medical Encyclopedia