What should you know about untreated melanoma?

Melanoma begins in pigment-producing cells and may appear as a changing mole, a new dark mark, or a lesion with uneven colour, shape, or border. Without treatment, cells can extend beyond the original skin site and enter nearby lymphatic or blood pathways. Spread may involve lymph nodes or organs such as the brain; brain metastases require specialist care. A suspicious mark is not proof of melanoma, and many changing skin lesions have other explanations, but delay can make assessment and treatment more complex.

Arrange a dermatology assessment for a new or changing lesion. The clinician may examine the skin closely, remove the concerning area for laboratory analysis, and discuss whether nearby lymph nodes need assessment. Treatment depends on the confirmed diagnosis and extent; options can include surgical excision, wider skin cancer surgery, tumour removal surgery, or medicines such as immunotherapy. Do not pick, burn, or apply unprescribed products to the lesion.

Seek prompt medical care for a spot that changes in size, shape, colour, or elevation, bleeds without a clear injury, repeatedly crusts, or fails to heal. Seek urgent help for severe headache, confusion, weakness, seizures, or new vision changes alongside a known or suspected melanoma, because these symptoms need immediate assessment.

Ask whether the lesion needs biopsy, what the pathology shows, whether lymph-node assessment is appropriate, and which treatment timeline and follow-up plan fit your findings.