Skin Cancer, Melanoma What is melanoma? Melanoma is a kind of
skin cancer. It isn't as common as other types of skin cancer,
but it is the most serious. Melanoma usually looks like a flat
mole with uneven edges and a shape that is not the same on both
sides. It may be black, brown, or more than one color. Most
melanomas show up as a new spot or skin growth. But they can
form in an existing mole or other mark on the skin. Melanoma can
affect your skin only, or it may spread to your organs and
bones. As with other cancers, treatment for melanoma works best
when the cancer is found early. This topic is about melanoma
that occurs in the skin. It doesn't cover melanoma that occurs
in the eye or in any other part of the body besides the skin.
What causes melanoma? You can get melanoma by spending too much
time in the sun. Too much UV radiation from sun exposure causes
normal skin cells to become abnormal. These abnormal cells
quickly grow out of control and attack the tissues around them.
You are at higher risk for