Melanoma Information, Facts and Resources

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Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, compared to basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. But most melanomas can be cured if they’re found and treated early before they spread. So, it’s important to learn the signs and symptoms of melanoma, and how the disease is diagnosed. If you’ve already been told you have melanoma, Fred Hutch Cancer Center offers comprehensive treatment from a team of experts who specialize in skin cancers.

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What Is Melanoma?

Melanoma is cancer that begins in melanocytes. These are the cells that make melanin, the pigment that determines your natural skin color. Normally, melanocytes are at the bottom of your epidermis, which is the outer layer of your skin. Abnormal melanocytes that have turned into cancer may grow in other places, too.

Five Facts About Melanoma

  1. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, but it is also one of the most treatable when caught early.
  2. While most people associate melanoma with sun exposure, it can also appear on parts of the body that are never exposed to the sun, such as the soles of the feet, palms of the hands or even under finger and toenails.
  3. Even though it is the rarest type of skin cancer among the three main types (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma), melanoma causes the most skin cancer deaths.
  4. Melanoma can occur at any age. It is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in young adults.
  5. Not all melanomas are dark brown or black. Some melanomas can be pink, red, or even white, which can make them harder to spot.

Understanding Melanoma

Melanoma Symptoms

Usually melanomas develop in or around an existing mole. It’s therefore important to notice any skin or mole changes on your body. Signs and symptoms of melanoma vary depending on the exact type of melanoma.

Learn About Melanoma Symptoms

Melanoma Types

There are four basic types of melanoma of the skin:

  • Superficial spreading melanoma
  • Acral lentiginous melanoma
  • Lentigo maligna
  • Nodular melanoma

There are also noncutaneous (non-skin) types of melanoma like ocular melanoma and mucosal melanoma.

Learn More About Melanoma Types

Melanoma Stages

Staging is the process of finding out whether your cancer has spread and, if so, to what extent. The treatment that your Fred Hutch care team will recommend for melanoma will be based in part on the stage of your cancer.

Melanoma is grouped into stages I (1) through IV (4), with stage I melanoma being the least advanced and stage IV melanoma being the most advanced. 

Learn About Melanoma Stages

Melanoma Screening and Diagnosis

You should examine your own skin monthly. See images of what different melanoma types can look like. If you have an abnormal-looking growth on your skin that might be melanoma, you should make an appointment with your primary care provider to be screened.

Learn About Melanoma Screening and Diagnosis

Melanoma Risk Factors and Prevention

Everyone is at some risk for melanoma and other skin cancers, but certain factors increase your risk. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) through sunlight or tanning beds, more than anything else, increases the risk of getting melanoma. Some things you can’t control, these are known as genetic or biological risk factors.

Learn About Melanoma Risk Factors and Prevention

Melanoma FAQ

Overall, skin cancers are the most common cancers in the United States. Each year about 91,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with melanoma of the skin, according to the American Cancer Society. By comparison, about 3.3 million are diagnosed with one or more basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas, the other two major types of skin cancer.

Melanoma is much more serious than basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It can spread quickly to other organs and causes the vast majority of skin cancer deaths in the United States. However, when caught early, melanoma can be highly curable. This is why prevention is key.

Every May is Melanoma Awareness Month. This can be a great opportunity to naturally bring up the topic in conversation, and also is a good time to do so before the summer months come and your family is more likely to be outdoors in the sun. But if May is still far away, don’t wait. If you choose to share information with them, be sure to use a trusted source, such as the American Cancer Society.