- Roughly 100,640 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma this year, according to the American Cancer Society, making it one of the most common types of cancer in the U.S., especially among older adults who have endured decades of sun exposure and whose immune systems aren't robust as they once were.
- The good news: Melanomma is highly curable if it's caught early.
- The hallmarks of melanoma are asymetrical or rough-looking moles without clearly defined borders.
- A spot on the skin that contienus to grow in size or change is another indication, and a once-monthly body scan is an easy way to keep tabs on any of these concerning characteristics.
- The ugly duckling: People who ave lots of moles are at increased risk for melanoma. That doesn't mean, however, that you need to panic over every mark on your body. Pay attention to the moles that stand out those that are darker than the rest, have changed recently or are more oddly shaped. Some oncologist called them Ugly Duckling. With women, melanomas most commonly appear on the arms and legs. Men need to pay special attention to their head, neck, back and trunk. Still, those aren't the only places this type of skin cancer can pop up.
- Where the sun doesn't shine: The majority of melanomas are thought to be caused by ultravioet (UV) light, but not all of them come from sun exposure. Melanoma can develop anywhere on the body, including " in places the sun doesn't shine" like the soles of the feet or the palm of the hand. The cancer can also appear as a dark streak under a fingernail or toenail, which is what happened to musician Bob Marley. He initially mistook his melanoma for a bruise on the toe and eventually died from it. And while it's rarer, melanoma also can develop on the eye, inside the mouth or on the scalp, Patients experience changes in their hair color " someone who had gray hair and developed a black streak, because of a melanoma growing on the scalp. So, strange things can happen, but these aren't common ones. The hidden melanomas are more common in people with darker skin. Black and Indian and Asian patients have nail changes, any dark spots on the palms and soles, as well as in the eye and mouth, these are ones that need to be worry about.Melanoma is 20 times more common in white individuals than in Black individuals, according to te American Cancer Society. Howevery, when melanoma develops in people of color, it's often diagnosed at a later more dangerous stage. A 2019 study from the CDC found that the ive-year melanoma survival rate amond non-Hispanic Balck populations was 66.2 percent, compared with 90.1 percent for non-Hispanic white populations.
- Red, white and blue hues Melanomas are often depicted as dark-brown moles, but they can acutally present in a variety of colors. The cancer may have a blue tint to it, from deeper pigmentation. or it can appear red, the result of an immune response. Melanoma also appear like a rash. Another sign of a melanoma can be lack of color. Some of these cancerous spots lose their pigmentation completely or partially, leaving a halo of white around a darker spot.
- Spots on the skin that bleed or itch: Sometimes a mole on the body starts to itch or becomes more painful or tender. The same goes if the surface of a molre changes, maybe it starts to ooze or bleed or take on a scalier appearance and doesn't heal on its own.Itching, bleeding and irritation near the actual mole are red flags.