Where is melanoma most dangerous

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. It accounts for 10 to 15 percent of all cases.

How and where it grows: The tumor grows deeper into the skin more rapidly than other types and is most frequently found on the torso, legs and arms, as well as the scalp in older men. It is usually invasive at the time it is first diagnosed. What it looks like: Nodular melanoma is often recognized as a bump on the skin, usually blue-black in color, but not uncommonly can also appear as a pink to red bump.

Reviewed by: Allan C. Halpern, MD Ashfaq A. Want to spread the word about skin cancer awareness? Complete the form and you may end up on our website. Melanoma Overview. A Dangerous Skin Cancer. What is a melanocyte? What does melanoma look like? How dangerous is melanoma? How widespread is melanoma? What are the four main types of melanoma of the skin?

Risk Factors. Warning Signs. About Melanin Naturally darker-skinned people have more eumelanin and naturally fair-skinned people have more pheomelanin. The estimated five-year survival rate for U. A dermatologist can recommend an appropriate brand. Don't forget sunglasses.

Become familiar with your skin so that you'll notice changes. Examine your skin often for new skin growths or changes in existing moles, freckles, bumps and birthmarks. With the help of mirrors, check your face, neck, ears and scalp. Examine your chest and trunk and the tops and undersides of your arms and hands. Examine both the front and back of your legs and your feet, including the soles and the spaces between your toes.

Also check your genital area and between your buttocks. Melanoma care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.

Overview Melanoma Open pop-up dialog box Close. Melanoma Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that begins in the cells melanocytes that control the pigment in your skin. Moles Open pop-up dialog box Close. Moles Moles are usually harmless. Melanoma Open pop-up dialog box Close. Melanoma The first sign of melanoma is often a mole that changes size, shape or color.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Where skin cancer develops Open pop-up dialog box Close. Where skin cancer develops Skin cancer begins in the cells that make up the outer layer epidermis of your skin.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references AskMayoExpert. Mayo Clinic; Cutaneous melanoma. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Accessed Jan. Niederhuber JE, et al. In: Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. There are many ways to prevent it from forming, some more obvious than others. More on prevention. Vera Heydendael. Senior Dermatologist. Pictures of Melanoma. Mole example with a suspicious asymmetry and color. Dark skin mole with a suspicious asymmetry and color. Other pictures. For other mole pictures, check our galleries.

Melanoma pictures. Frequently asked questions about melanoma. Other types like amelanotic and desmoplastic melanomas are rare. What are the first sign of melanoma? How to diagnose melanoma? To help you keep an eye on your dangerous moles you can use the ABCDE rule to recognize the warning signs on it: A symmetry , B order irregularity, multiple C olours, D iameter greater than 6 mm and E volution.

If you notice these warning signs or if your skin spot is changing,visit a healthcare professional promptly. During medical examination your doctor will ask about symptoms, risk factors such as family history of skin cancer or sunburn and examine your skin to look for signs that may indicate melanoma. Any suspicious area will be removed and sent for laboratory analysis this is called skin biopsy. Biopsy is the only sure way for the doctor to know if it is skin cancer.

How does melanoma spread? How SkinVision can help you! Learn the health of your skin. Start with SkinVision Now. Check your skin for skin cancer today. Try SkinVision. If you cannot find an answer there, please contact us. Contact us. SkinVision Customer Stories. Seonaid Sichel. United Kingdom.