Malignant Melanoma, while not very common, is the most serious type of skin cancer. Early detection is extremely important.

Melanoma is easily treatable and curable when detected early. Delay in diagnosis increases the risk of the tumor spreading and decreases the chances of curing the disease. Death from melanoma accounts for approximately 90% of all skin cancer deaths.

Symptoms
Melanoma does not produce symptoms in most cases. The lesions do not cause pain or itching. Bleeding and ulceration may develop in advanced cases of melanoma.

Malignant melanoma starts in the cells that produce pigment in the skin (melanocytes). This type of skin cancer may arise in a preexisting mole, or may appear as a new brown spot on the skin. Because of the lack of symptoms, recognizing the warning signs is the best way to detect melanoma in its early stages. These include:

• Asymmetry: One half of the mole looks different than the other half
• Border - The edges are irregular (not oval or round, and smooth)
• Color - Two or more shades or colors of pigment within the mole
• Diameter - The mole is larger than a pencil eraser
• Evolving - The mole has changed in appearance

Examine your skin on a regular basis, and become familiar with your moles, in order to better identify changes.

Causes
Sunburns and cumulative sun exposure, especially sun exposure in childhood, is thought to be a leading factor. Heredity also plays a role in some individuals and families.

Fair-skinned people are more prone to developing malignant melanoma. However, people with darker skin may be affected. Other risk factors include red or blonde hair, light eye color, freckling, more than fifty moles, three or more blistering sunburns, presence of atypical moles, and a family history of melanoma.

Moles that are present at birth have a greater chance of becoming malignant.

Treatment Options
Treatment options will vary by the stage of the melanoma’s growth, and the individual patient. Surgical removal of the melanoma is the most common treatment method.

For patients with atypical moles and/or large numbers of moles, computerized Mole Mapping, a relatively new diagnostic tool, helps the physician and patient detect changes in moles. This diagnostic tool may increase the likelihood of detecting melanoma in its early stages when it is potentially curable.

Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Contact us to learn more about Malignant Melanoma, or to schedule a consultation to discuss treatment options available to you.