Melanoma is a cancer which originates in the skin, this can be through seemingly ‘normal’ skin, or through a mole. Over 8,900 people are diagnosed with this cancer a year in the UK and it appears to affect more women than men (a common cancer in people who are 15-34 years old).

Melanoma is split into three groups:

• Thin Melanomas (less than 1 mm): A thin melanoma has not yet spread to deeper layers of the skin and only affects ‘surface’ layers of skin. Thin melanomas are often treated with surgery which tends to be an effective cure.
• Melanomas 1mm and over: Melanomas which measure larger than 1mm are more advanced than thin melanomas and require a combination of treatment which your doctor/consultant can discuss with you.
• Advanced Melanomas: Melanomas which had advanced are those which have spread to other parts of the body usually the brain, bones, lungs, liver or distant skin areas or lymph nodes. It is possible of melanoma to occur in multiple sites within the body once it has spread. Treatment will be determined by where in the body the melanoma is affecting, you can discuss this with your doctor/consultant.

Things to look out for

Symptoms include but are not limited to:

A checklist (ABCDE) of symptoms has been devised to help look out for melanomas:

A – Asymmetry: healthy moles are symmetrical so both halves look the same. You may notice that a mole becomes Asymmetrical meaning there are differences in the mole.

B – Border: Healthy moles have a definite border or edge however you may notice an irregular and sometimes jagged edge with melanoma.

C – Colour: Healthy moles are one shade of brown, melanomas can be various colours or a mixture of colours including brown/red/pink/black/white or have a blue tint.

D - Diameter: A healthy mole tends to be no more than 6mm wide, melanomas tend to be larger in size around 7mm plus.

E – Evolving: With melanoma there is likely to be a change in the size and shape of the mole, this is why it is important to monitor these changes.

Other symptoms may include:

• A bleeding mole and or scabbing/crusting of the surface of the mole.
• Itchiness or tingling sensation of a mole.
• A pigmented line in a nail or a growth beneath a nail.
• Changes in shape size or colour of a mole or any unusual changes.

It is important to see your doctor as soon as you notice any changes in a mole or area of your skin. The quicker melanoma treatment begins the more effective it can be.