What Is Malignant Melanoma?

Malignant melanoma is a form of cancer that is commonly referred to as skin cancer because of the fact that it develops either on an existing mole or appears as an abnormal change in the skin. Early treatment is vital: If not removed soon enough, it can penetrate the layers of the skin and enter lymph nodes, enabling the cancer to spread to other vital organs of the body.

Causes

• Malignant melanoma is generally caused by overexposure to ultraviolet rays from either the sun or from tanning beds. The UV lights from both sources damage the DNA in the cells of the skin, resulting in melanoma.

Symptoms

• Signs of melanoma are a change in the color, size or shape of existing moles, or abnormal changes in otherwise healthy skin.

Diagnosis

• Upon examining the suspected melanoma, a doctor is usually able to determine whether it is cause for concern. To be sure, he might remove the area and perform a biopsy.

Treatment

• If the biopsy confirms that the area is malignant melanoma, the doctor might perform a procedure called wide local excision. This removes a small amount of healthy tissue that surrounds the biopsied area, ensuring no cancer cells are left behind.

Considerations

• Treatment for malignant melanoma might be more extensive depending on the stage of cancer. The more progressed the cancer, the more intense the treatment.