Melanoma
Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in patients under 35
and it is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. More than 50,000 new cases of
melanoma occur in the U.S. every year and the trend is increasing compared with
other malignancies, particularly in sunny states.
Melanoma can affect the skin only or, if not found and treated early, it can spread
to the organs and bones. Spending too much time in the sun is a key factor in developing
melanoma, which causes normal skin cells to grow out of control and attack the tissues
around them. Risk factors include family history, fair skin and hair, light eyes
and a tendency to freckle.
The most important sign of melanoma is any change in the shape, size or color of
a mole or other skin growth, such as a birthmark. Melanomas can be found anywhere
on your body; however, most of the time, they are discovered on the upper back in
both men and women and on the legs of women.
Melanoma looks like a flat, brown or black mole that has uneven edges and is usually
in an irregular or asymmetrical shape. Unlike a normal mole or mark, a melanoma
can change color, be lumpy or rounded, or become crusty, ooze, or bleed.
Melanoma is diagnosed when a biopsy reveals cancer cells are present. At that point,
more tests are run to determine how far the cancer has spread and the appropriate
treatment necessary. The most common treatment is surgery to remove the melanoma.
If the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body, that is all the treatment
needed for early-stage melanomas. For late-stage melanomas, cancerous lymph nodes
may need to be removed.
Melanoma requires aggressive, skillful and specialized treatment, where success
is measured in millimeters of the initial intervention. Surgery to remove the tumor
is normally the first step and may be all that is necessary for treatment of small
melanomas. When melanoma is more advanced, patients need to undergo a biopsy of
nearby lymph nodes to determine if the cancer has spread.
Related Services
The UF Health Cancer Center at Jacksonville offers the following services related
to melanoma: