Skin Cancer (Cutaneous Oncology) Program

Melanoma

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What Is Melanoma?

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Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops from the cells in the skin that produce color (melanocytes). It is one of three types of skin cancer that develop from cells in the top layer of the skin (epidermis), the other two being basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Although melanoma is the least common of the skin cancers, it is the most serious. Most of the deaths that are seen from skin cancer are in patients with melanoma.

The number of cases of melanoma that are diagnosed yearly has been increasing at a rate greater than any other cancer. Some of this may be due to a greater awareness of the disease in the general population, as well as increased screening by doctors.

It is important that melanoma is identified early because it is a very treatable disease if caught early. In fact, the majority of melanoma cases that are diagnosed yearly are at a very early stage and can be managed with surgery alone. Therefore, any mole that has changed or any new, abnormal appearing skin lesions should be promptly evaluated by a physician.

This page was last updated on: May 14, 2009.