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Skin cancer (melanoma) at a glance

There are two main types of skin cancer, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer.

Melanoma accounts for almost three per cent of all newly diagnosed cancers each year. There are over 4,000 new cases of melanoma in men, and nearly 5,000 new cases in women a year.

Melanoma (also known as malignant melanoma) is a cancer that develops from cells called melanocytes, which are found in the outer layer of our skin.

Melanocytes produce melanin, a pigment that helps protect the deeper layers of our skin from the harmful effects of the sun. This pigment appears as a suntan, which is a sign of damaged skin.

Melanomas often start in moles, but they can also develop elsewhere on the skin. In rare cases, melanomas can occur in the eye, under the fingernails, or in other parts of the body not usually exposed to the sun.

Click on the links below to find out more about melanoma skin cancer.

• Risks and causes
• Signs and symptoms
• Screening
• Detection
• Treatment

If you are a patient looking for information on melanomar, please visit our patient information website, CancerHelp UK

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Risks and causes

The following things affect a person's chances of developing melanoma.

This is the main and most preventable risk. The sun gives off UV (ultraviolet) rays. UV can cause skin damage, including sunburn and premature ageing of the skin. This damage can eventually lead to skin cancer.

Research suggests that people who have had sunburn and/or intense sun exposure in childhood are at an increased risk of developing melanoma in later life. It is therefore important to protect children's skin from the sun. Babies younger than one year should not be exposed to strong sun. Short periods of intense exposure to sunlight, for example on a two-week beach holiday, and sunbeds also increase the risk.

Find out how to protect yourself in the sun on our SunSmart website.

Melanoma is most common in people aged between 40-60 years, although a significant proportion of cases occur in people under 35.

Having large numbers of moles (50-100) increases the risk of developing melanoma, as does having multiple unusual moles. These moles are generally larger then normal moles, and are uneven in colour with an irregular border.

Fair skin contains less protective pigment than darker skin. Having fair skin (especially if it freckles or burns easily), increases the risk of developing melanoma. Even people with dark skin can still develop melanoma, especially on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands.

Having had melanoma in the past increases the risk of developing another melanoma.

The risk of developing melanoma is increased if parents, siblings or children have been diagnosed with melanoma. If there have been three or more cases of melanoma within a family, people can ask their doctor for referral to a specialist in dermatology or a clinical genetics unit.

XP is a rare inherited condition. People with XP are less able to repair damage caused to their skin by the sun's UV rays, and so have a high risk of developing skin cancers, including melanoma.

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Signs and symptons

Approximately one third of melanomas develop from normal moles. The rest develop on areas of previously normal skin.

The earlier melanoma is detected, the better the chance of cure. People who notice any of the following symptoms should report them to the doctor without delay:

• an existing mole or dark patch that is getting larger or is newly growing
• a mole with a ragged edge
• a mole with a mixture of different shades of brown and black.

The following signs do not necessarily mean that a melanoma has developed, but people should still look out for them. If a mole or dark patch does not return to normal within two weeks, it should not be ignored, but reported to a doctor.

• an inflamed mole or one with a reddish edge
• a bleeding, oozing or crusting mole
• a change in sensation of a mole, like a mild itch
• a mole that is bigger than all other moles.

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Screening

The best way to prevent melanoma is to avoid over-exposure to the sun and other sources of UV (ultraviolet) radiation. It is also important to know one's skin and keep an eye on moles.

To find out more about the dangers of sun damage, and the five key actions you can take to protect yourself, please visit our SunSmart website.

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Detection

The doctor will carry out an examination, particularly of the skin and lymph nodes, and ask questions about any previous medical problems. If a melanoma is suspected, the whole suspicious area of the skin or mole is usually removed by a skin specialist.

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Treatment

The main treatments for melanoma are:

Doctors can remove most melanomas surgically, which includes removing a small amount of normal-looking skin surrounding the cancer.

Doctors may use chemotherapy to treat advanced melanoma. This can include a combination of drugs.

Immunotherapy is the name given to cancer treatments that use the immune system to attack cancers. The commonest immunotherapy used in malignant melanoma is interferon. Interferon is a substance that is naturally produced by the body. It is produced in tiny quantities and helps the body fight infection or attack cells that the body recognises as abnormal, for example cancer cells.

Another immunotherapy given for malignant melanoma is interleukin 2. This is also a natural substance produced by the body in tiny quantities.

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