What should you know about Gina Savage melanoma?

Melanoma begins in pigment-producing cells and may appear as a new mark or a changing mole. Warning changes include uneven shape, irregular colour, an enlarging spot, itching, bleeding, or a lesion that does not heal. These signs do not establish the diagnosis; a clinician may examine the skin with magnification and arrange a biopsy. Confirmed melanoma is described by features such as tumour thickness, ulceration, and whether it has reached nearby lymph nodes or distant organs. [Melanoma](/conditions/melanoma/) can therefore require a personalised plan rather than one standard treatment.

Do not remove, burn, or repeatedly irritate a changing lesion at home. Photographing it beside a scale can help show change, but it does not replace examination. A suspicious lesion may be treated with [Surgical Excision](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/excisional-surgery/) or other [Skin Cancer Surgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/skin-cancer-surgery/). Depending on the findings, a [Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy](/treatments/diagnostics-and-staging/sentinel-lymph-node-biopsy/) may help assess nearby spread. More advanced disease may prompt discussion of [Immunotherapy](/treatments/systemic-therapy/immunotherapy/). Keep appointments and protect treated skin from ultraviolet exposure.

Arrange a prompt dermatology appointment for a new or changing pigmented lesion, especially one that bleeds, crusts, grows, or differs from your other moles. Seek urgent medical help for severe headache, new weakness, confusion, seizures, or vision changes in someone with known advanced melanoma; these symptoms can have many causes but require assessment. Follow-up after treatment helps clinicians check the scar, nearby skin, lymph nodes, and any new concerns.

What did the biopsy show, and what features determine the stage? Is further surgery or lymph-node assessment needed? Which treatment options fit my findings? How often should I have skin and lymph-node checks?