Melanoma

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, but it is highly curable when found early. It develops from melanocytes, the cells that give skin its color, and it can spread to other parts of the body if it is not caught in time. Knowing the ABCDE warning signs and getting suspicious spots checked promptly saves lives.

What Is Melanoma?

Melanoma begins in melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in the skin. It can appear as a new spot or as a change in an existing mole. Because melanoma can spread to lymph nodes and internal organs if left untreated, early detection is critical. When melanoma is found at its earliest stage, the five-year survival rate is about 98 percent.

The ABCDEs of Melanoma

Use the ABCDE guide to spot warning signs in a mole or spot:

• A is for Asymmetry: one half does not match the other half.
• B is for Border: edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
• C is for Color: the color is uneven and may include shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue.
• D is for Diameter: the spot is larger than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser), though melanomas can be smaller.
• E is for Evolving: the spot is changing in size, shape, or color, or it is new, itching, or bleeding.

Any spot that stands out from your others, often called the "ugly duckling," or that is changing, should be evaluated. See how to check your skin.

What Causes Melanoma and Who Is at Risk?

• Ultraviolet exposure from the sun and from tanning beds
• A history of blistering sunburns, especially early in life
• Fair skin, light eyes, and a tendency to burn
• Many moles, or several atypical (dysplastic) moles
• A personal or family history of melanoma
• A weakened immune system

How Is Melanoma Diagnosed?

A dermatology provider examines the skin, often with a dermatoscope, and removes any suspicious spot with a skin biopsy for examination under the microscope. If melanoma is confirmed, its depth (Breslow thickness) and other features guide staging and the treatment plan. Full-body skin exams help find melanoma early, before it has a chance to spread.

How Is Melanoma Treated?

The main treatment for melanoma is surgery. Early, thin melanomas are usually cured by removing the melanoma along with a margin of normal skin (wide local excision). Depending on the depth, a sentinel lymph node biopsy may be recommended to check whether cells have begun to spread. For melanoma in situ on the face, such as lentigo maligna, a staged surgical excision may be used. Advanced melanoma is treated with additional therapies such as immunotherapy or targeted therapy, coordinated with oncology. Belaray provides screening, biopsy, and surgical treatment of appropriate melanomas, and coordinates care for advanced disease.

Early Detection and Prevention

Check your own skin monthly and see a dermatology provider for a full-body skin exam, especially if you have risk factors. Protect your skin every day with broad-spectrum sunscreen and sun-protective clothing, and avoid tanning beds. Learn more about the value of an annual skin exam and skin cancer screening on Long Island.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does melanoma look like?

Melanoma often looks like a new or changing spot that follows the ABCDE warning signs: Asymmetry, an irregular Border, uneven Color, a Diameter larger than about 6 millimeters, and Evolving or changing over time. It can also be a spot that looks different from your other moles, itches, or bleeds. Any spot with these features should be checked promptly.

Is melanoma curable?

Yes, melanoma is highly curable when it is found and treated early. When caught at the earliest stage, the five-year survival rate is about 98 percent. The prognosis becomes more serious the deeper the melanoma grows and if it spreads, which is why early detection is so important.

How is melanoma treated?

The main treatment for melanoma is surgery to remove it along with a margin of normal skin. Depending on the depth, a sentinel lymph node biopsy may be recommended. Advanced melanoma may be treated with immunotherapy or targeted therapy, coordinated with oncology. Belaray provides screening, biopsy, and surgical treatment of appropriate melanomas and coordinates advanced care.

What are the ABCDEs of melanoma?

The ABCDEs are a guide for spotting melanoma: A for Asymmetry, B for an irregular Border, C for uneven Color, D for a Diameter larger than about 6 millimeters, and E for a spot that is Evolving or changing. Use them to check your moles, and see a dermatology provider for anything new, changing, or unusual.

Does melanoma need Mohs surgery?

Most invasive melanomas are treated with wide surgical excision rather than standard Mohs surgery. For some melanomas in situ on the face, such as lentigo maligna, a staged surgical excision may be used. Your Belaray provider will recommend the approach that fits your specific melanoma.

Where can I get a mole or melanoma checked on Long Island?

Belaray Dermatology provides full-body skin exams and mole checks at its Hicksville (Nassau County) and Stony Brook (Suffolk County) offices, with prompt biopsy of any suspicious spot. Call or text (516) 822-7546 to schedule a skin exam.

Related reading: how to check your skin, mole removal, atypical (dysplastic) moles, and skin cancer screening on Long Island.