Introduction

Melanoma is a well-known type of skin cancer. In 2008, melanoma will be the sixth most commonly diagnosed form of cancer for men and the seventh most in women in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. About half of all cases of melanoma are diagnosed before age 57.

In melanoma, cancer develops in the cells that produce color (pigment) in the skin. This color is called melanin. The cells that produce melanin are called melanocytes. Cancerous changes in melanocytes may be seen as changes in the size, shape, or color of a mole. Other visible signs include oozing or bleeding from a mole; itching, swelling, or painful sensitivity in a mole; or the appearance of a new mole.

Other names for melanoma include malignant melanoma, cutaneous melanoma,  malignancy of melanocytes, and malignancy of pigment-producing cells. Melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer, but is also the most aggressive, spreading quickly to other body areas. The good news is that melanoma is curable if detected early and treated before it has a chance to spread.

Melanoma most often appears in fair-skinned people, but dark skin is not a protection against it. Risk factors associated with developing melanoma include having blond or red hair, light-colored skin, and/or blue eyes; having many freckles, a large number of moles, and/or a dark-colored type of mole called a dysplastic nevus; inability to tan; unprotected exposure to the sun; and a family history of melanoma.