Introduction

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that usually starts as a dark spot or mole on your skin. It is the most serious type of skin cancer and can spread to other parts of your body. But if you find melanoma early, treatment works well and can lead to a cure.

We've brought together the best research about malignant melanoma and weighed up the evidence about how to treat it. You can use our information to talk to your doctor and decide which treatments are best for you.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that usually starts as a dark spot or mole on your skin. It is the most serious type of skin cancer and can spread to other parts of your body. But if you find melanoma early, treatment works well and can lead to a cure.

Your doctor may call this type of skin cancer malignant melanoma, but it is often simply called melanoma.

Key points for people with melanoma

• Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer.

• More people are being diagnosed with melanomas now than before.^[1]

• You may be able to prevent melanomas by protecting yourself from the sun.

• You're more likely to get a melanoma if someone else in your family has had one, if you have fair skin or if you have more than 50 moles.^[2]

• If you have a melanoma, you will need surgery to remove it.

• If it's found early, melanoma can be cured.

• But if your melanoma has already spread to other parts of your body, treatment probably won't cure you.

Your skin

Your skin has special cells called melanocytes. These are found near the skin's surface. Melanocytes protect your skin from sun damage. When you get a melanoma, it starts in these cells.

Here's how melanocytes protect your skin from the sun.^[3]

• Melanocytes contain a chemical called melanin.

• Melanin is a dark pigment that protects your skin from sunlight.

• When there is a lot of sun, the melanocytes make more melanin and send it towards the surface of your skin. This is how you get a tan.

• Even though everyone has the same number of melanocytes, people from Africa and Asia have darker skin because their melanocytes work harder and make more melanin.

Most moles are perfectly normal. Many people are born with them. Moles usually look like small, round, dark spots. They may be slightly raised. But if their shape or colour changes, it may be a sign that you have skin cancer.

To learn what to look out for, see What are the symptoms of melanoma?

What happens in skin cancer?

A melanoma is a kind of skin cancer. Cancers are diseases that start in your own cells. Sometimes cells grow and divide in an abnormal way, making too many other cells. These abnormal cells stick together. This makes a lump that's called a tumour. If the tumour is cancer, the cancer cells can spread to other parts of your body.