What should you know about melanoma on a knee?

Melanoma is a cancer of pigment-producing cells. On or near the knee it can look like a new dark patch, a changing mole, an uneven bump, or a lesion that catches on clothing and repeatedly bleeds. It may have an irregular outline, more than one shade, altered texture, itching, or a sore surface.

The knee is also prone to friction, shaving cuts, insect bites, and bruises, which can make a harmless mark look concerning. A clinician may use dermoscopy and take a biopsy to distinguish these causes. Pathology, rather than location or colour alone, determines the diagnosis and next steps.

Arrange a skin assessment if the mark is new, evolving, or unlike your other moles. Photograph it and note any bleeding, discomfort, or change in its outline. Avoid rubbing, scratching, or using wart remover and other home products, since these can irritate the area and obscure its appearance.

When melanoma is confirmed, treatment often involves planned removal. Your clinician may explain Surgical Excision, Skin Cancer Surgery, or Tumour Removal Surgery, along with wound care around a moving joint. A Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy may be discussed when it could add useful staging information.

Seek prompt care for a knee lesion that is enlarging, changing quickly, persistently bleeding, ulcerated, or surrounded by increasing warmth and redness. Urgent assessment is needed for fever with a worsening wound, sudden leg swelling, severe pain, new weakness, confusion, or breathing trouble. These symptoms require attention even if the skin mark seems small.

Ask whether friction or an old injury could explain the appearance, whether biopsy is needed, and how the result will be shared. Ask about the expected scar, movement during healing, margins, lymph-node assessment, and the schedule for checking the treated area and the rest of your skin.