Melanoma is a specific kind of skin cancer. Melanomas most commonly form on skin that has been exposed to the sun or another form of ultraviolet light (such as tanning beds). However, a melanoma can also form on areas of the body that have not had such sun exposure such as the soles of the feet or in-between toes. Melanomas can also develop internally. For external melanomas, a change in the appearance of a mole – size, shape, color, texture – or the development of a new skin growth, may be the first signs of the disease. Risk factors for melanoma include having fair skin that burns easily, having numerous moles, and a family history of the cancer. The diagnosis process usually begins by a trained medical provider identifying and/or confirming a suspicious looking mole. This can happen at a routine physical or during a skin check by a dermatologist. The doctor may use a specialized magnifying lens to get a closer look at the growth to determine if removal and biopsy (evaluating the tissue from the mole) should be performed. If laboratory testing confirms melanoma, follow-up testing will help determine the staging of the lesion.

As with all forms of cancer, early detection of melanoma is important. This can be difficult because melanoma can grow quickly and rather silently, even when affecting other areas of the body. Making matters more complicated, often times the moles people worry most about due to size or appearance are completely benign. Once diagnosed, the recommended treatment plan will be based on the stage of the melanoma and its location(s). Surgical removal of the melanoma may have already happened during the biopsy process. It will be important however that the doctor confirms that a measure of skin around the growth also been removed (this is called a clean margin). The best scenario is that the melanoma did not spread to lymph nodes or other organs. For individuals diagnosed with later-stage melanoma, the standard treatment protocol can involve many other approaches including targeted therapies based on specific genetic information, radiation therapy, and newer forms of immunotherapy.