What is a Melanoma?

Melanoma is a cancer of the pigment producing cells(melanocytes) in the skin. It occurs when melanocytes overgrow, proliferate and invade other body tissues.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

1. Who gets Melanoma?
Anyone can get melanoma, but individuals with fair, sun sensitive skin, a personal and/or family history of melanoma, and a personal history of sunburns, atypical moles, and/or many moles are at a greater risk for developing melanoma.

2. What treatments are used for Melanoma?
Removal of the melanoma and some surrounding normal appearing skin around the lesion. Because a person's outcome depends on how deep the melanoma is in the skin. When a biopsy is performed, the depth of invasion into the skin will be measured and reported by a dermatopathologist. This will guide treatment.

3. What can I do to protect myself?

• Avoid sun exposure (usually between 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m.)
• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both types of ultraviolet light (UVA and UVB),and reapply sunscreen frequently
• Wear a hat, and clothing that will block ultraviolet light
• Perform a monthly self-exam and look for irregular lesions that are growing and changing
• Use the ABCDs rules
• If you have an atypical mole, contact your dermatologist immediately

The ABCDs of Melanoma

Asymmetry - When one half of the skin lesion is different than the other half.  Draw an imaginary line through the middle of the lesion, either up and down or side to side.  Check the two sides of the line for same size and shape (symmetry).  Melanomas are usually asymmetric.

Border Irregularity - The edge, or border, of melanomas are usually ragged, notched, and blurred.

Color - Moles can be any color, but a single mole will be only one color.  Melanoma often has a variety of colors and shades within the same lesion.

Diameter - Melanomas continue to grow, while moles remain small.  Moles larger than 6 millimeters need to be followed by a dermatologist and may require a biopsy.

For more information on Melanoma, please visit the following websites:

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/melanoma.html
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma