Australia’s Leading
Skin Cancer Clinic
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Patients: About Skin Cancer: MelanomaWhat is Melanoma?Malignant melanoma is the uncontrolled growth of tanning cells in the skin. It is a very serious form of skin cancer and it can be fatal. Melanoma and other skin cancers can develop spontaneously. Melanoma is not always sun related and there may be a family history. Melanoma is not always large and very dark in colour. It can be small and light in colour. Always personally check your moles and freckles and if changes in size, shape or colour have occurred or if a new mole appears - have them checked.
How Does Melanoma Develop?When melanoma starts in the skin, it is called cutaneous melanoma. Melanoma may also occur in the eye (ocular melanoma or intraocular melanoma) and, rarely, in other areas where melanocytes are found, such as the digestive tract, meninges, or lymph nodes. When melanoma spreads (metastasis), cancer cells are also found in the lymph nodes and possibly also other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, or brain. In these cases, the cancer cells are still melanoma cells, and the disease is called metastatic melanoma. ABC's of Melanoma
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Melanoma can occur on any part of the skin. It begins in melanocytes — cells that make the skin pigment called melanin. Although melanoma accounts for only about 4% of all skin cancer cases, it causes most skin cancer-related deaths. The good news is that melanoma is often curable if it is detected and treated in its early stages. In men, melanoma is found most often on the area between the shoulders and hips or on the head and neck. In women, melanoma often develops on the lower legs. It may also appear under the fingernails or toenails or on the palms or soles. The chance of developing melanoma increases with age, but it affects all age groups and is one of the most common cancers in young adults.
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