Melanoma (Print Version)

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color or feel of a mole. Most melanomas have a black or black-blue area. Melanoma may also appear as a new mole. It may be black, abnormal or "ugly looking."

Thinking of "ABCD" can help you remember what to watch for:

Asymmetry - the shape of one half does not match the other
Border - the edges are ragged, blurred or irregular
Color - the color in uneven and may include shades of black, brown and tan
Diameter - there is a change in size, usually an increase

Melanoma can be cured if it is diagnosed and treated early. If melanoma is not removed in its early stages, cancer cells may grow downward from the skin surface and invade healthy tissue. If it spreads to other parts of the body it can be difficult to control.

Start Here

Melanoma(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/melanoma/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/melanomaspanish/htm/index.htm
What You Need to Know about Melanoma(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/melanoma

Overviews

Malignant Melanoma(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/sun_malignant.html
Melanoma(Skin Cancer Foundation) - http://www.skincancer.org/melanoma/

Latest News

Early Detection of Melanoma Plus Regular Skin Exams Is Vital For Beating Disease(05/04/2009, American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/media/background/news/Releases/Early_Detection_Of_Melanoma_Plus_Regular_Skin_Exam/
Melanoma and Pregnancy: What Every Woman Needs to Know about the Risks, Prognosis(05/04/2009, American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/media/background/news/Releases/Melanoma_And_Pregnancy_What_Every_Woman_Needs_To_K/
Screening the One You Love for Skin Cancer(05/04/2009, American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/media/background/news/Releases/Dermatologists_Encourage_People_To_Screen_The_One_/
Genes Hike Melanoma Risk Even in Those Who Tan Well(04/21/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83180.html
Older Men Need to Take Closer Look for Melanomas(04/20/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83134.html
Experts Find Gene Trigger for Deadly Skin Cancer(04/06/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82598.html
More News on Melanoma http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_m.html#melanoma

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Biopsy: What to Expect(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/biopsy.html
How Is Melanoma Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_melanoma_diagnosed_50.asp
Lymphoscintigraphy(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=lympho
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=lympho
Melanoma(College of American Pathologists) - Links to PDF - http://www.cap.org/apps/docs/reference/myBiopsy/SkinMelanoma.pdf
Skin Biopsy(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/cosmetics/skinBiopsy.htm
Skin Examinations(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/skin_examinations.html
Staging: The First Step in Treating Skin Cancer(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/staging.html

Treatment

Intraocular (Eye) Melanoma (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/intraocularmelanoma/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/melanomaintraocular/patient/
Melanoma (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/melanoma/patient/
Treating Melanoma(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/treating_melanoma.html
Treatment of Melanoma by Stage(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_of_Melanoma_Skin_Cancer_by_Stage_50.asp?sitearea=

Prevention/Screening

Body Mole Map(American Academy of Dermatology) - Links to PDF - http://www.melanomamonday.org/documents/08_96%20Melanoma%20Monday%20Mole%20Map.pdf
Can Melanoma Be Prevented?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_can_melanoma_be_prevented_50.asp
Facts about Sunscreens(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/media/background/factsheets/fact_sunscreen.htm
Who Is Most at Risk for Melanoma?(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/who_is_most.html

Coping

How to Cope with a Melanoma Diagnosis(Melanoma International Foundation) - http://www.melanomaintl.org/melanoma_info/coping.html

Specific Conditions

Eye Melanoma(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/eye-melanoma/DS00707/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
Four Types of Melanoma(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/four_types.html
Hidden Melanomas(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/hidden_melanomas.html
Malignant Melanoma of the Foot(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) - http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/Malignant_Melanoma.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.footphysicians.com/espanol/melanoma-maligno-del-pie.htm

Related Issues

Dysplastic Nevi (Atypical Moles)(Skin Cancer Foundation) - http://www.skincancer.org/Dysplastic-Nevi-Atypical-Moles.html
Melanoma: How It Returns, Where It Spreads(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/melanoma_returns.html
What Happens after Treatment for Melanoma?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_5X_What_happens_after_treatment_50.asp?sitearea=
What You Need to Know about Moles and Dysplastic Nevi(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/moles-and-dysplastic-nevi
When to See a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/whentosee.html

Pictures & Photographs

Melanoma(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/melanoma.htm
Melanoma: What It Looks Like(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/melanoma.html
Skin Types and At-Risk Groups(Skin Cancer Foundation) - http://www.skincancer.org/Skin-Types-and-At-Risk-Groups.html

Health Check Tools

Melanoma Cancer Risk Questionnaire(Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention) - http://www.yourdiseaserisk.siteman.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=english&func=start&quiz=melanoma
Also available in Spanish http://www.yourdiseaserisk.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=spanish&func=start&quiz=melanoma

Tutorials

Melanoma(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/melanoma/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/melanomaspanish/htm/index.htm

Videos

If I Had - A Changing Mole(Insidermedicine) - http://www.insidermedicine.com/Archives/If_I_Had_-_A_Changing_Mole_-_Dr_Nanette_Liegeois_MD_PhD_1889.aspx?p=mdlnp
If I Had - A Mole in My Eye(Insidermedicine) - http://insidermedicine.com/archives/If_I_Had_-_A_Mole_In_My_Eye_-_Dr_Carol_Shields_MD_Wills_Eye_Hospital_and_Thomas_Jefferson_University_School_of_Medicine_2903.aspx?p=mdlnp

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Melanoma(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Melanoma%22
ClinicalTrials.gov: Intraocular (Eye) Melanoma(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22intraocular+melanoma%22

Genetics

Genetics of Melanoma(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Learning+About+Cancer/Genetics/The+Genetics+of+Melanoma
Melanoma Can Run in Families(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/melanoma_genes.html

Research

Do We Know What Causes Melanoma?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_do_we_know_what_causes_melanoma_50.asp
What's New in Melanoma Research?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_7X_Whats_new_in_melanoma_skin_cancer_research_50.asp?rnav=cri

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Differential expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 in melanocytic skin lesions. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19369632&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Intra-arterial hepatic chemoembolization (TACE) of liver metastases from ocular melanoma... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19368137&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Translating uveal melanoma cytogenetics into clinical care. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19365018&tool=MedlinePlus
Melanoma -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=melanoma[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(guideline[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Dictionaries/Glossaries

Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/
Glossary(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/glossary.html

Directories

Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/findaderm/
Melanoma Treatment Centers(Skin Cancer Foundation) - http://www.skincancer.org/melanoma-treatment-centers.html

Organizations

American Academy of Dermatology - http://www.aad.org/
American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/
Melanoma International Foundation - http://www.melanomaintl.org/
National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/

Statistics

2008 Melanoma Fact Sheet(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/media/background/factsheets/fact_melanoma.html
Melanoma of the Skin(National Cancer Institute) - http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html
What Are the Key Statistics about Melanoma?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_are_the_key_statistics_for_melanoma_50.asp

MedlinePlus Magazine

6 Common Cancers - Skin Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/spring07/articles/spring07pg12.html
Sam Donaldson: Tips from A Cancer Survivor - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/spring07/articles/spring07pg7.html

Children

Moles in Children: What Parents Should Know(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/moles_children.html

Teenagers

Melanoma(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/skin_stuff/melanoma.html

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Skin Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skincancer.html
Cancers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancers.html
Skin, Hair and Nails - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skinhairandnails.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Melanoma is the National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/

Melanoma - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/melanoma.html