What should you know about what melanoma is?

Melanoma develops from melanocytes, the cells that make melanin, the pigment responsible for much of the colour in skin, hair, and eyes. It most often begins in the skin but can also arise in a nail unit or other specialised tissue. It may start in an existing mole or as a new mark. Some melanomas are dark, while others are pink, red, or close to skin colour. If cells move beyond the original site, doctors assess nearby lymph nodes and other organs.

A clinician examines the whole skin surface and asks about change, symptoms, personal history, and family history. Dermoscopy can show structures not visible to the unaided eye, but a biopsy is needed to identify melanoma. Treatment depends on the biopsy and stage. Local disease may be treated with Surgical Excision or Skin Cancer Surgery; selected cases may need Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy, Tumour Removal Surgery, or Immunotherapy.

Book a prompt assessment for a new or changing mole, a mark with uneven colour or border, a lesion that repeatedly bleeds or crusts, or a sore that does not heal. Check nails, soles, scalp, and other hard-to-see areas. Seek urgent help for severe symptoms such as sudden weakness, confusion, or difficulty breathing. These symptoms have many possible causes, but they require timely medical evaluation.

Ask whether the lesion needs a biopsy, what the pathology will report, and whether any scans or lymph-node assessment are relevant. If melanoma is confirmed, ask how the stage affects treatment, what recovery may involve, and how Follow-Up After Cancer Treatment will be arranged.