What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma (mel-eh-NOE-muh) is a type of cancer that begins in a melanocyte (meh-LAN-uh-site), a cell in the top layer of skin (the epidermis). Melanocytes make melanin (MEL-eh-nun), the pigment that gives skin its color.
Melanoma also can develop in other parts of the body, like the eyes, mouth, genitals, and anal area.
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Melanoma?
Often, melanoma begins as a mole or a bump on the skin. It's important to know if a mole has changed in size, shape, or color.
Keep this ABCDE rule in mind when checking moles:
- A for asymmetry: If you were to cut the mole down the middle, would the left and the right sides look different?
- B for border: Are the edges blurry and undefined? Does it look like it's spreading sideways?