Melanoma

Melanoma

Melanoma is the most severe form of skin cancer. It forms in cells known as melanocytes that produce our skin, hair and eye color. Melanoma becomes a serious threat if it invades the healthy tissue under the skin.¹

Fast Facts

Also found in: Bowel, eye
Accounts for less than 5% of skin cancer cases²
4 types: Superficial spreading, nodular, lentigo maligna, acral lentiginous
Can spread rapidly
10 times more common in whites than blacks²
Slightly more common in men than women²
Symptom: Atypical moles
Use the ABCD system to evaluate moles³
Curable if diagnosed and treated early
Treatment: Surgical removal, radiation therapy, chemotherapy

First Signs and Causes

In most cases, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape or color of a mole. New moles may also be melanoma. While many common moles are not cancerous, atypical moles should be investigated by a dermatologist.

Sun exposure can be dangerous to the skin and cause melanoma, as can the radiation in tanning beds. People with fair skin and who are sun-sensitive are at a greater risk for developing melanoma.⁴

Prevention

Avoid sun during midday hours
Use sunscreen
Wear sun-protective clothing
Avoid tanning indoors and outdoors
Examine skin regularly

Risk Factors

Fair skin
Blue or green eyes
Red or blond hair
Previous family history
Sun damage

United States Statistics

New cases: Estimated 62,480 in 2008²
Deaths: Estimated 8,420 in 2008²
Incidence increased 6 percent per year since the 1970s²
Annual cost: About $1.5 billion on treatment⁵

Disclaimer

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you have melanoma, please consult your doctor.

Categories

Health | Cancer | Diseases | Dermatology

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The Mahalo Top 7

MedlinePlus: Melanoma
American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): Malignant Melanoma
American Cancer Society (ACS): Detailed Guide: Skin Cancer - Melanoma
National Cancer Institute (NCI): Melanoma Home Page
Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF): Melanoma
Wikipedia: Melanoma
YouTube Video: Melanoma Awareness (Time: 4:25)

Melanoma News

Google News: Melanoma Search
The New York Times: Melanoma News
WebMD: Melanoma Special Feature Stories and News
HealthDay: Larger Skin Lesions More Likely to Be Melanoma (April 22, 2008)
HealthDay: Melanomas on Scalp and Neck More Deadly (April 21, 2008)
HealthDay: Drug Proves Effective in Slowing Melanomas (April 15, 2008)
The New York Times: Am I Looking at a Malignant Melanoma? (April 1, 2008)
The New York Times: Spotlight on Skin (March 25, 2008)
International Herald Tribune: Little spoken on the campaign trail: McCain's bouts with.. (March 9, 2008)
HealthDay: Natural Secretion Marks Difference Between Ordinary Mole and Melanoma (February 7, 2008)
- "An anti-cancer protein that's naturally produced and secreted by the body can make the difference between a common mole and deadly melanoma skin cancer, a new study says."
HealthDay: Researchers Hone in on Cancer Stem Cells for Melanoma (January 16, 2008)
HealthDay: Dermatologists Best for Melanoma Diagnosis (April 23, 2007)
ScienceDaily: Detection Of Melanoma By Dermatologists Linked With Higher Survival Rates (April 18, 2007)
ScienceDaily: Novel Antigen-Cloning Technique May Boost Efforts To Develop A... (April 16, 2007)

Melanoma Facts

WebMD: Melanoma/Skin Cancer Center
Melanoma: What Is Melanoma?
SCF: What Is Melanoma?
AAD: Malignant Melanoma
ACS: What Is Melanoma?
MedlinePlus: Medical Encyclopedia: Melanoma

Melanoma Staging and Survival Rates

SCF: Types of Melanoma | Stages of Melanoma
NCI: Stages of Melanoma
ACS: After the Tests: Staging of Melanoma | How Is Melanoma Skin Cancer Staged?

Melanoma Treatment Options

Melanoma: Treating Melanoma
WebMD: Melanoma Treatment Overview
SCF: Melanoma Treatment
NCI: Melanoma Treatment
MayoClinic.com: Melanoma: Treatment
ACS: How Is Melanoma Skin Cancer Treated?

Melanoma Holistic and Alternative Treatment

ACS: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Melanoma
Acupuncture: The Value of Herbs in the Treatment of Cancer

Melanoma Prevention

Melanoma: Melanoma Prevention
WebMD: Melanoma Prevention
MayoClinic.com: Melanoma: Prevention
ACS: Can Melanoma Skin Cancer Be Prevented?

Melanoma Scientific and Medical Journal Articles

Journal of the American Medical Association Search: Melanoma
PubMed Central Search: Melanoma

Melanoma Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Melanoma Clinical Trials
CenterWatch: Melanoma Clinical Trials

Melanoma Images

Google Images: Melanoma Photos
MayoClinic.com: Slide Show: Melanoma Pictures to Help Identify Skin Cancer

Melanoma Support Groups

American Melanoma Foundation (AMF): Melanoma Support Group
WebMD: Melanoma & Skin Cancer Support & Resources
Cancer Links USA: The Cancer Information Network - Skin Cancer
MedicineNet.com: Are there Support Groups for Cancer Patients?

Melanoma Discussion and Blogs

Daily Strength: Melanoma Posts
MedHelp: Melanoma Posts
ACS: Greg: Offering Hope to 'Sun Lovers'
Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign (CCMAC): Stories
Foundation for Melanoma Research: Your Stories
The Cancer Blog: Posts from the Melanoma Category

Related Pages on Mahalo

How to Treat a Sunburn | How to Remove Age Spots | Skin Cancer | Cancer | Moles | Atypical Mole | Freckles | Sunspots | Sunburn | Chemotherapy | Radiation Therapy | Tangerine | Sunscreen | How to Treat Ringworm