What does melanoma mean

Most melanoma cells still make melanin, so melanoma tumors are usually brown or black. But some melanomas do not make melanin and can appear pink, tan, or even white. Melanomas can develop anywhere on the skin, but they are more likely to start on the trunk chest and back in men and on the legs in women.

The neck and face are other common sites. Having darkly pigmented skin lowers your risk of melanoma at these more common sites, but anyone can get melanoma on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or under the nails. Melanomas in these areas make up a much larger portion of melanomas in African Americans than in whites. Melanomas can also form in other parts of your body, such as the eyes , mouth, genitals, and anal area, but these are much less common than melanoma of the skin. Melanoma is much less common than some other types of skin cancer.

There are many other types of skin cancer. We also explain how best to prevent melanoma. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs when pigment producing cells called melanocytes mutate and begin to divide uncontrollably.

Most pigment cells develop in the skin. Melanomas can develop anywhere on the skin, but certain areas are more at risk than others. In men, it is most likely to affect the chest and back. In women, the legs are the most common site. Other common sites of melanoma include the face.

However, melanoma can also occur in the eyes and other parts of the body, including — on very rare occasions — the intestines. They also estimate that around 7, people will die due to melanoma in The stage of a cancer at diagnosis will indicate how far it has already spread and what kind of treatment will be suitable. One method of assigning a stage to melanoma describes the cancer in five stages , from 0 to Read more about late stage melanoma here.

There are four types of melanoma. Learn more about each type in the sections below. This is the most common type of melanoma, and it often appears on the trunk or limbs. The cells tend to grow slowly at first before spreading across the surface of the skin.

This is the second most common type of melanoma, appearing on the trunk, head, or neck. It tends to grow quicker than other types, and it may appear as a reddish or blue-black color. Nodular melanoma is also the most aggressive type. Learn more about it here.

This is less common and tends to develop in older adults, especially in parts of the body that have had excessive sun exposure over several years, such as the face. It usually grows slowly and is less dangerous than other types of melanoma. This is the rarest kind of melanoma. It appears on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or under the nails. Since people with darker skin do not typically get other types of melanoma, these tend to be the most common type of melanoma in those with darker skin types.

However, scientists do know that people with certain skin types are more prone to developing melanoma. Of these risk factors, only sun exposure and sunburn are avoidable. Avoiding overexposure to the sun and preventing sunburn can significantly lower the risk of skin cancer. Tanning beds are also a source of damaging ultraviolet UV rays. Learn more about birthmarks here, including which may increase the risk of skin cancer.

Being able to tell the difference between normal moles or freckles and those that indicate skin cancer can support an early diagnosis. In its early stages, melanoma can be difficult to detect.

Melanomas present in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Melanoma is usually curable when detected and treated early. Once melanoma has spread deeper into the skin or other parts of the body, it becomes more difficult to treat and can be deadly. How and where it grows: It can arise in an existing mole or appear as a new lesion. When it begins in a mole that is already on the skin, it tends to grow on the surface of the skin for some time before penetrating more deeply.

While it can be found nearly anywhere on the body, it is most likely to appear on the torso in men, the legs in women and the upper back in both. What it looks like: It may appear as a flat or slightly raised and discolored, asymmetrical patch with uneven borders. It can also lack pigment and appear as a pink or skin-tone lesion amelanotic.

What you should know: This form of melanoma often develops in older people. When this cancer becomes invasive or spreads beyond the original site, the disease is known as lentigo maligna melanoma.

How and where it grows: This form of melanoma is similar to the superficial spreading type, growing close to the skin surface at first. The tumor typically arises on sun-damaged skin on the face, ears, arms or upper torso. What it looks like: It may look like a flat or slightly raised, blotchy patch with uneven borders.

Color is usually blue-black, but can vary from tan to brown or dark brown. What you should know: This is the most common form of melanoma found in people of color, including individuals of African ancestry.

How and where it grows: It often appears in hard-to-spot places including under the nails and on the soles of the feet or palms of the hands.

What it looks like: It may appear as a black or brown area. Musician Bob Marley was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma, which ultimately claimed his life at age When a dark spot appeared under his toenail, Marley attributed it to a soccer injury. Eventually he was diagnosed with the disease but was not treated.

His melanoma spread to other areas of his body and tragically cut his life short. What you should know: This is the most aggressive type of melanoma.