Melanoma is a skin cancer. It affects skin cells called melanocytes. These cells produce skin color. They also give moles their dark color. Under normal conditions, moles are benign skin tumors. This means non-cancerous. Sometimes a mole can develop into melanoma. A new mole may also be an early melanoma.

Melanoma is less common and more dangerous. They are much more likely to spread to other parts of the body.

Skin cancer is caused by:

• Ultraviolet radiation from the sun
• Artificial radiation from sun lamps and tanning booths

These factors increase your chance of developing melanoma:

• Certain types of moles called dysplastic nevi, or atypical moles (which look similar to melanoma)
• Large dysplastic nevi present at birth
• Age: early adulthood, later in life
• Race: white
• Fair skin
• Red or blonde hair
• Light-colored eyes
• Family members with melanoma
• Excessive skin exposure to the sun without protective clothing or sunscreen
• Suppressed immune system

Melanomas are not usually painful. At first they often have no symptoms. The first sign is often a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of an existing mole. They may also appear as a new, dark, discolored, or abnormal mole. Remember that most people have moles. Almost all moles are benign.

The following are signs that a mole may be a melanoma:

• Uneven shape—one half does not match the shape of the other half
• Ragged edges—ragged, notched, blurred, or irregular; pigment may spread into surrounding skin
• Uneven color—color is uneven with shades of black, brown or tan, and possibly even white, gray, pink, red, or blue
• Change in size—usually growing larger; usually larger than the eraser of a pencil (5 mm or ¼ inch)
• Change in texture—may begin to have fine scales; may become hard or lumpy in advanced cases
• Bleeding—may start to itch or, it may ooze or bleed in more advanced cases

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. The doctor will look at your skin and moles. A biopsy will be taken of certain. Other moles will be watched over time.

The doctor may also examine lymph nodes. They may be in the groin, underarm, neck, or areas near the suspicious mole. Enlarged lymph nodes may suggest the spread of melanoma. The doctor may need to remove a sample of lymph node tissue to test for cancer cells.

Once melanoma is found, tests are done to find out if the cancer has spread. Treatment depends on whether the cancer has spread.

The melanoma and some healthy tissue around it will be removed. If a large area of tissue is removed, a skin graft may be done. Lymph nodes near the tumor may be removed, as well.

This treatment uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given in many forms. This includes pills, injections, and via a catheter.

Biological therapy involves substances made by the body to increase or restore the body's natural defenses against cancer. Examples include:

• Interferon
• Interleukin 2
• Melanoma vaccines

Radiation therapy is the use of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. This is not a cure for melanoma. It is used in combination with other therapies.