Melanoma

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 "ABCD" 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 in uneven and may include shades of black, brown and tan
Diameter - there is a change in size, usually an increase
Melanoma can be cured if it is diagnosed and treated early. If melanoma is not removed in its early stages, cancer cells may grow downward from the skin surface and invade healthy tissue. If it spreads to other parts of the body it can be difficult to control.
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Melanoma(Patient Education Institute)
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What You Need to Know about Melanoma(National Cancer Institute)
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Malignant Melanoma(American Academy of Dermatology)
Latest News
Experts Find Gene Trigger for Deadly Skin Cancer(04/06/2009, Reuters Health)
Gene Screen Could Help Spot Melanoma(03/31/2009, HealthDay)
Skin Cancer Study Uncovers New Tumor Suppressor Gene(03/29/2009, National Human Genome Research Institute)
Gene Test May ID Younger Women at Risk for Melanoma(03/25/2009, HealthDay)
Scientists Identify a Potential Target That May Provide a New Approach to Melanoma Treatment(03/09/2009, National Cancer Institute)
New Research Finds Six Factors Predictive of Melanoma Risk(03/05/2009, American Academy of Dermatology)
More News on Melanoma
Diagnosis/Symptoms
Biopsy: What to Expect(American Academy of Dermatology)
How Is Melanoma Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society)
Lymphoscintigraphy(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
Also available in Spanish
Melanoma(College of American Pathologists) - Links to PDF
Skin Biopsy(Logical Images)
Skin Examinations(American Academy of Dermatology)
Staging: The First Step in Treating Skin Cancer(American Academy of Dermatology)
Treatment
Intraocular (Eye) Melanoma (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
Melanoma (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
Treating Melanoma(American Academy of Dermatology)
Treatment of Melanoma by Stage(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Prevention/Screening
Body Mole Map(American Academy of Dermatology) - Links to PDF
Can Melanoma Be Prevented?(American Cancer Society)
Facts about Sunscreens(American Academy of Dermatology)
Who Is Most at Risk for Melanoma?(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Coping
How to Cope with a Melanoma Diagnosis(Melanoma International Foundation) Return to top
Specific Conditions
Eye Melanoma(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Four Types of Melanoma(American Academy of Dermatology)
Hidden Melanomas(American Academy of Dermatology)
Malignant Melanoma of the Foot(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
Related Issues
Dysplastic Nevi (Atypical Moles)(Skin Cancer Foundation)
Melanoma: How It Returns, Where It Spreads(American Academy of Dermatology)
What Happens after Treatment for Melanoma?(American Cancer Society)
What You Need to Know about Moles and Dysplastic Nevi(National Cancer Institute)
When to See a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Pictures & Photographs
Melanoma(Logical Images)
Melanoma: What It Looks Like(American Academy of Dermatology)
Skin Types and At-Risk Groups(Skin Cancer Foundation) Return to top
Health Check Tools
Melanoma Cancer Risk Questionnaire(Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention)
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
Tutorials
Melanoma(Patient Education Institute)
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
Videos
If I Had - A Changing Mole(Insidermedicine)
If I Had - A Mole in My Eye(Insidermedicine) Return to top
Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov: Melanoma(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Intraocular (Eye) Melanoma(National Institutes of Health) Return to top
Genetics
Genetics of Melanoma(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
Melanoma Can Run in Families(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Research
Do We Know What Causes Melanoma?(American Cancer Society)
What's New in Melanoma Research?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Article: Melanoma: do we need a hatchet or a scalpel?
Article: Proposed quality standards for regional lymph node dissections in patients...
Article: Immunogenicity and antitumor effects of vaccination with peptide vaccine+/-granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating...
Melanoma -- see more articles Return to top
Dictionaries/Glossaries
Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute)
Glossary(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Directories
Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology)
Melanoma Treatment Centers(Skin Cancer Foundation) Return to top
Organizations
American Academy of Dermatology
American Cancer Society
Melanoma International Foundation
National Cancer Institute Return to top
Statistics
2008 Melanoma Fact Sheet(American Academy of Dermatology)
Melanoma of the Skin(National Cancer Institute)
What Are the Key Statistics about Melanoma?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
MedlinePlus Magazine
6 Common Cancers - Skin Cancer
Sam Donaldson: Tips from A Cancer Survivor Return to top
Children
Moles in Children: What Parents Should Know(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Teenagers
Melanoma(Nemours Foundation) Return to top
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Date last updated: 08 April 2009 Topic last reviewed: 08 April 2009