Melanoma
Last updated 28 May 2021
Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines
- DownloadDownload
- Share
- Language
- Discussion
- Audio Version
- Add to preferred sources on Google
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. This cancer typically occurs in areas that are only occasionally sun-exposed; tumours are most commonly found on the back in men and on the legs in women. Melanoma usually occurs on the skin (cutaneous melanoma), but in about 5 percent of cases it develops in melanocytes in other tissues, including the eyes (uveal melanoma) or mucous membranes that line the body's cavities, such as the moist lining of the mouth (mucosal melanoma). Melanoma can develop at any age, but it most frequently occurs in people in their fifties to seventies and is becoming more common in teenagers and young adults.
Description
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. This cancer typically occurs in areas that are only occasionally sun-exposed; tumours are most commonly found on the back in men and on the legs in women. Melanoma usually occurs on the skin (cutaneous melanoma), but in about 5 percent of cases it develops in melanocytes in other tissues, including the eyes (uveal melanoma) or mucous membranes that line the body's cavities, such as the moist lining of the mouth (mucosal melanoma). Melanoma can develop at any age, but it most frequently occurs in people in their fifties to seventies and is becoming more common in teenagers and young adults.
Melanoma may develop from an existing mole or other normal skin growth that becomes cancerous (malignant); however, many melanomas are new growths. Melanomas often have ragged edges and an irregular shape. They can range from a few millimeters to several centimeters across. They can also be a variety of colors: brown, black, red, pink, blue, or white.
Most melanomas affect only the outermost layer of skin (the epidermis). If a melanoma becomes thicker and involves multiple layers of skin, it can spread to other parts of the body (metastasize).
A large number of moles or other pigmented skin growths on the body, generally more than 25, is associated with an increased risk of developing melanoma. Melanoma is also a common feature of genetic syndromes affecting the skin such as xeroderma pigmentosum. Additionally, individuals who have previously had melanoma are nearly nine times more likely than the general population to develop melanoma again. It is estimated that about 90 percent of individuals with melanoma survive at least 5 years after being diagnosed.
Inheritance patterns
The source lists the following possible inheritance patterns: Not inherited; Autosomal dominant. More than one pattern can apply in different cases.
Related genes
Other names
Cutaneous melanoma
Malignant melanoma
Related patient information and medicines
Patient information leaflet
Melanoma skin cancer
Melanoma (also called malignant melanoma) is the most serious type of skin cancer. It can be caused by too much s... The treatment for melanoma is mainly surgical but other treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are increasingly used, especially if it is not possible to remove all the melanoma or if the melanoma is diagnosed at a.
Patient information leaflet
Skin cancer types
This leaflet gives a general overview about skin cancer and the different skin cancer types - melanoma and non-melanoma. Cancer is a disease of the cells in the body. Skin cancers are divided into: Melanoma (malignant melanoma). However, this is uncommon in the ... Melanoma (malignant melanoma) Melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer, but.
Patient information leaflet
Preventing skin cancer
This leaflet gives tips on how to prevent skin cancer. There are three basic types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcino... You can read more about melanoma in the separate leaflet called Melanoma Skin Cancer. Skin cancers, especially melanoma, are less common in non-white skin types. How to prevent melanoma Certainly at.
Patient information leaflet
Lymphoedema and lipoedema
It often runs in families. Secondary lymphoedema 'Secondary' lymphoedema is much more common - it's caused by blockage of, or damage to, your lymph channels. Causes include: Removing lymph nodes during cancer surgery (particularly for melanoma and cancer of the breast , cervix , vulva , prostate and penis ). Radiotherapy treatment for cancer..
Patient information leaflet
Vulval cancer
Cancer of the vulva (vulval cancer) is an uncommon cancer. There are just around 1,300 new cases each year in the UK. This means they have developed from the skin cells in the outer layer of your vulva. Around 4 in 100 cases of vulval cancers are due to a melanoma which develops from cells in your skin that cause pigmentation. What does vulval.
Patient information leaflet
Actinic keratosis
See the separate leaflets called Types of Cancer and Non-melanoma Skin Cancer for more details. The most serious type of skin cancer, melanoma , usually occurs in people who have had a lot of sun exposure. So, although an actinic keratosis does not progress into a melanoma, people with an actinic keratosis have an increased risk of developing a.
Further reading and references
- Melanoma; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Bennett DC. Genetics of melanoma progression: the rise and fall of cell senescence. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2016 Mar;29(2):122-40. doi: 10.1111/pcmr.12422. Epub 2015 Nov 18.
- Chatzinasiou F, Lill CM, Kypreou K, Stefanaki I, Nicolaou V, Spyrou G, Evangelou E, Roehr JT, Kodela E, Katsambas A, Tsao H, Ioannidis JP, Bertram L, Stratigos AJ. Comprehensive field synopsis and systematic meta-analyses of genetic association studies in cutaneous melanoma. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011 Aug 17;103(16):1227-35. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djr219. Epub 2011 Jun 21.
- Davis EJ, Johnson DB, Sosman JA, Chandra S. Melanoma: What do all the mutations mean? Cancer. 2018 Sep 1;124(17):3490-3499. doi: 10.1002/cncr.31345. Epub 2018 Apr 17.
- Gerstenblith MR, Shi J, Landi MT. Genome-wide association studies of pigmentation and skin cancer: a review and meta-analysis. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2010 Oct;23(5):587-606. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-148X.2010.00730.x. Epub 2010 Jul 16.
- Hampel H, Bennett RL, Buchanan A, Pearlman R, Wiesner GL; Guideline Development Group, American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Professional Practice and Guidelines Committee and National Society of Genetic Counselors Practice Guidelines Committee. A practice guideline from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors: referral indications for cancer predisposition assessment. Genet Med. 2015 Jan;17(1):70-87. doi: 10.1038/gim.2014.147. Epub 2014 Nov 13.
- Kim G, McKee AE, Ning YM, Hazarika M, Theoret M, Johnson JR, Xu QC, Tang S, Sridhara R, Jiang X, He K, Roscoe D, McGuinn WD, Helms WS, Russell AM, Miksinski SP, Zirkelbach JF, Earp J, Liu Q, Ibrahim A, Justice R, Pazdur R. FDA approval summary: vemurafenib for treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma with the BRAFV600E mutation. Clin Cancer Res. 2014 Oct 1;20(19):4994-5000. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-14-0776. Epub 2014 Aug 5.
- Marzuka-Alcala A, Gabree MJ, Tsao H. Melanoma susceptibility genes and risk assessment. Methods Mol Biol. 2014;1102:381-93. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-727-3_20.
- Taylor NJ, Mitra N, Goldstein AM, Tucker MA, Avril MF, Azizi E, Bergman W, Bishop DT, Bressac-de Paillerets B, Bruno W, Calista D, Cannon-Albright LA, Cuellar F, Cust AE, Demenais F, Elder DE, Gerdes AM, Ghiorzo P, Grazziotin TC, Hansson J, Harland M, Hayward NK, Hocevar M, Hoiom V, Ingvar C, Landi MT, Landman G, Larre-Borges A, Leachman SA, Mann GJ, Nagore E, Olsson H, Palmer JM, Peric B, Pjanova D, Pritchard A, Puig S, van der Stoep N, Wadt KAW, Whitaker L, Yang XR, Newton Bishop JA, Gruis NA, Kanetsky PA; GenoMEL Study Group. Germline Variation at CDKN2A and Associations with Nevus Phenotypes among Members of Melanoma Families. J Invest Dermatol. 2017 Dec;137(12):2606-2612. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2017.07.829. Epub 2017 Aug 19.
- Zebary A, Omholt K, van Doorn R, Ghiorzo P, Harbst K, Hertzman Johansson C, Hoiom V, Jonsson G, Pjanova D, Puig S, Scarra GB, Harland M, Olsson H, Egyhazi Brage S, Palmer J, Kanter-Lewensohn L, Vassilaki I, Hayward NK, Newton-Bishop J, Gruis NA, Hansson J; Melanoma Genetics Consortium (GenoMEL). Somatic BRAF and NRAS mutations in familial melanomas with known germline CDKN2A status: a GenoMEL study. J Invest Dermatol. 2014 Jan;134(1):287-290. doi: 10.1038/jid.2013.270. Epub 2013 Jun 14. No abstract available.
Join the conversation
Share your thoughts or experiences with others in our patient communities.
Ask, share, connect.
Browse discussions, ask questions, and share experiences across hundreds of health topics.
Sign up to the Patient newsletter
Your weekly dose of clear, trustworthy health advice - written to help you feel informed, confident and in control.
By subscribing you accept our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. We never sell your data.