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Malignant melanoma

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. It is important to pay attention to any changes found on your skin. A change in the size, shape, or color of a mole (or other darkly pigmented growth) could be an early sign of melanoma. A mole becoming ulcerated or bleeding easily from a slight injury is another warning sign. Since melanoma can spread quickly, do not hesitate to have your skin checked by your doctor. Learn how to do a monthly skin self-exam.

There is an "ABCD" guideline for watching your skin.

• A stands for asymmetry. One-half of your mole is different from the other half.
• B stands for border. The edges are ragged, notched, blurred, or irregular.
• C is for color. The color is uneven. Shades of black, brown, and tan may be seen. Areas of white, gray, red, pink, or blue also may be seen.
• D is for diameter. The diameter is the length of a mole from any end to the opposite end. There is a change in size, usually an increase.

Melanomas are more common on skin that is exposed to sunlight. All persons, but particularly those with fair skin, should avoid sunburn. People who have had one or more severe, blistering sunburns as a child, or teenager, are at increased risk.

Surgery is used to treat melanoma. It is necessary to remove not only the tumor, but also some normal tissue around it in order to minimize the chance that the cancer will be left in the area. If nearby lymph nodes are involved, it may be necessary to remove those also. For local malignant melanoma, survival rates are very good. Once the disease spreads, it is associated with an increasingly poorer outcome.

Prevention and early detection are very important in this disease. Consult the UI Health Care Cancer Information Service at 800-237-1225 or 319-356-3000 for more information about this topic.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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