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.

—      Skin Cancer Basics (pdf)

—      Just the Facts … Skin Cancer (pdf)

—      Types of Melanoma

—      Staging

—      Treatment

—      Risk Factors for Melanoma

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?

Patients with melanoma are treated in our Melanoma & Skin Center. Head and neck melanoma patients are treated in our Head & Neck Center.

Skin Evaluation Clinic

If you think you may have skin cancer, screening is your best defense.

Minimally Invasive Surgery at M. D. Anderson is a surgical approach to melanoma and other cancer treatments designed to minimize trauma, maximize outcomes and enable patients to quickly return to their normal life.

Share This