Melanomas are much less common than other types of skin cancer, making up somewhere between 1% and 7% of all cases. But they’re more serious, as they’re more likely to spread to other parts of your body.
Melanomas are much less common than other types of skin cancer, making up somewhere between 1% and 7% of all cases. But they’re more serious, as they’re more likely to spread to other parts of your body.
Sometimes known as ‘malignant’ melanomas, they have a slightly scary reputation. Research shows that more than 7,000 people a year die from them in the US, and more than 2,000 people a year in the UK.
But the good news is that 75 out of 100 people who have a melanoma removed will be cured, and it won’t come back. And spotting them early is the key to getting the best treatment plan for you.
So here’s how to know if you’re at risk, what to look for, and how to get any suspicious changes checked out and treated.
Melanomas are
that can start from a mole you already have or a new mole. In the UK and the US, they’re the 5th most common type of cancer, in both men and women.They can happen anywhere on your body, but they’re more likely on your legs if you’re a woman or on your back if you’re a man. They’re most common on parts of your body that are often exposed to the sun.
Moles in themselves aren’t a problem – it’s only if they start to change, or if a new mole appears. Most of us have dozens of moles, and it’s common to have between 20 and 50 by the time we’re adults.
But having lots of moles does increase your risk of getting a melanoma, because they can develop from an existing mole. About 1 in 3 cases of melanoma start this way.
This is why it’s a good idea to check your moles regularly – such as once a month – for any changes that could be signs of melanoma. You can use the ‘ABCDE’ rule to help you do this (which doctors also use when
melanoma).As with all skin cancers, the biggest risk factor for melanoma is exposure to UV light – either from the sun or a
.In particular, spending time in intense sunshine that causes sunburn increases your risk of melanoma (read more about
.Find useful information on other areas of sun safety with our .
The things listed below can also put you at higher risk. Although this can seem scary, knowing the facts means you can take steps to protect yourself – such as being extra careful in the sun and regularly checking your skin for any changes (
).You’re more at risk if you:
How treatable and curable melanoma is depends very much on how early it’s diagnosed. Here’s what you need to know:
There are 4 main types of melanoma, and some other rarer types. Here’s what you need to know about the main ones.
About 70% of melanomas are superficial spreading melanomas (SSMs). Of these, about 60% are thin and highly curable. SSMs are the type of melanoma that’s most likely to start from a mole you already have.
They tend to grow outwards at first – so if they’re caught early, they often don’t cause problems. But if they do grow deeper into your skin, they have the potential to spread to other parts of your body.
What do they look like?
SSMs can vary in appearance. They may:
These are the 2nd most common type of melanoma, making up between 15% and 30% of cases. They tend to grow faster than SSMs, and often grow on previously normal skin.
Nodular melanomas can be harder to diagnose because they tend to have a small diameter and symmetrical borders – most are more than 2mm deep by the time they’re diagnosed.
What do they look like?
Nodular melanomas can be:
These account for 10% to 15% of melanomas. They’re most common on skin that’s been damaged by the sun over a long period – such as on older people who have spent a lot of time outdoors.
What do they look like?
Lentigo maligna melanomas can:
Although these make up less than 5% of all melanomas, they’re the most common type in people with darker skin (but they can affect people of any skin colour).
In the US, they account for 60% to 72% of melanomas in African Americans, and 29% to 46% of cases in Asians.
What do they look like?
Acral lentiginous melanomas:
If you think you have any of the melanoma signs or symptoms described above, see a doctor as soon as possible.
In particular, you should see a doctor urgently if you notice any of the following:
You should also see a doctor routinely if you:
Your doctor will examine your skin and ask you some questions (see below for details).
If necessary, they’ll refer you to a skin specialist (dermatologist). They can do a closer examination of your skin, using a handheld device called a dermatoscope. They may also take a small sample of your skin (
) to check it for cancerous cells.You can help your doctor by taking photographs that show how your skin or mole has changed, and having answers ready for the questions below.
Questions your doctor may ask include:
Your doctor may also use the following tests to check your skin.
One of the guides your doctor can use to help them work out if a mole might be cancerous is the ABCDE rule mentioned
.They may also be on the lookout for moles that look different from others on your body – this is known as the ‘ugly duckling’ test.
Sometimes, they may want to take a photograph of your skin, to send to a dermatologist and get their opinion.
Doctors can also use a weighted 7-point checklist to assess moles or other pigmented patches of skin for cancerous changes.
Major changes are given 2 points each. These include:
Minor changes are given 1 point each. These include:
A score of 3 or more suggests a greater risk of the change being skin cancer. In the UK, if there are strong concerns, any of these changes would be enough for an urgent referral to be checked for cancer.
How melanoma skin cancers are treated depends on where they are on your body and what ‘stage’ they’re at.
There are 4 stages of melanoma:
Treatment for early-stage melanoma is surgery to remove the tumour and surrounding tissues. This is known as ‘wide local excision’.
If a large amount of skin needs to be removed, it may also involve a skin graft to repair your skin’s surface.
You may have a biopsy of your ‘sentinel’ lymph nodes. These are the first lymph nodes that cancer is likely to spread to, so they are sometimes removed and checked for cancer.
This may have been diagnosed by a sentinel lymph node biopsy (see above). You will usually have surgery to remove the tumour.
If this surgery isn’t suitable, other options include:
Your doctor may also send a sample of your tumour for genetic testing, to look for variations in the ‘BRAF’ gene – which can make melanoma cells grow. Between 40% and 50% of people with melanoma have these changes.
If you do have changes, you may benefit from the following treatments, which target the gene and stop the growth of the cancer cells:
You can read more about some of these treatments in the treatment section of our article on
.If you’re diagnosed with melanoma, it might feel shocking and scary. Going through treatment can be hard, too, and you’ll probably need time off work to recover. Or maybe someone you care about has been diagnosed, and you want to help support them?
If you’re looking for support and more information, try:
Answered by:
“Although your risk of melanoma increases with age (the average age at diagnosis is 65), they can happen at any age, and aren’t uncommon in people under 30. In fact, melanomas are 1 of the most common cancers in younger people. See your doctor, who can examine you and refer you to a specialist if necessary. The earlier a melanoma is diagnosed, the higher the chance that it can be cured completely. According to figures from Cancer Research UK, the 5-year-plus survival rate for stage 1 melanoma is almost 100%, while it’s 80% for stage 2, 70% for stage 3, and about 30% for stage 4.”
Answered by:
“Melanoma in the eye is rare: about 2,500 people are diagnosed with it in the US every year, while 500 to 600 people in the UK are affected. It’s more common in people with light-coloured eyes and pale skin, and people over 50, as well as people who have used sunbeds. The cause is unknown, but it’s thought that it’s likely to be due to a mix of genetic and environmental factors. The cancer can grow for a long time without any symptoms, and these types of melanomas are most commonly picked up during a routine
. When symptoms do happen, they can include double vision or blurred vision, irritation, seeing flashing light or wavy lines, and losing vision. Other symptoms include redness and bulging of the eye, and seeing ‘floaters’ (a sensation similar to seeing a fleck of dust in your eye). If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor, who can examine you and arrange specialist tests if needed. Treatment options depend on the stage of the cancer, but include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.”Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.