Melanoma is one of the common cancers that can be treated successfully when detected early. Melanoma, a serious skin cancer, usually grows in melanocytes or cells producing melanin, the pigment that determines the skin color. The cause of melanoma is not known, but learning of the signs and symptoms of melanoma can help detect it before it is too late. It is believed to be caused because of overexposure to UV radiation.

Important signs and symptoms of melanoma
The risks of developing melanoma increase when one crosses the age of forty, particularly women. If one learns about the common signs and symptoms of melanoma cancer, they can detect the changes and start the treatment before it gets a chance to spread to other body parts. Melanoma will develop on the parts of skin that are visible, and this helps identify the condition. The best way is to keep checking for any unusual or new growths and changes in the shape and size of existing moles. In case one notices any of these symptoms, they should inform the doctor right away for a proper diagnosis.

Most moles in the body are typically benign and harmless. A regular mole will be uniformly colored brown, tan, or black and is about the same size as a pencil’s eraser. Some moles may be raised or flat, and their shapes or sizes normally do no change with time. Melanoma, however, can occur anywhere on the body. But they are most common in areas that have maximum exposure to the sun’s rays, like the face, legs, arms, and back.

Here are the common signs and symptoms of melanoma:

Changes in an existing mole
This is usually manifested as an unusual growth on the skin or a new pigmented growth. Melanoma will not always start off as a mole; it can start on an otherwise normal-looking skin area.

Normal moles will be uniform in color and have a proper border separating them from the rest of the skin. They will be round or oval-shaped. They may start to grow during childhood and can continue forming till 40. Some moles may fade away with age, while some may undergo a change of appearance over time. However, unusual-looking moles are a cause for concern.

To identify the characteristics of such moles that can be indications of skin cancers or melanoma, some guidelines need to be followed:

1. A
“A” stands for asymmetrical-shaped moles or those with irregular shapes

2. B
“B” stands for those with irregular borders like notched and scalloped borders.

3. C
“C” stands for color changes; so, one has to spot moles with diverse colors or an uneven color distribution

4. D
“D” stands for diameter and refers to new moles or growths that are bigger than ¼-inch in diameter

5. E
“E” stands for evolving and refers to changes that can happen over the years, like an increase in sizes of existing moles or changes in their shapes and colors. The moles can also develop newer symptoms, like bleeding or itching. Malignant ones will differ in appearance, while some have only a single characteristic, others may have all of the features discussed above.

Melanomas can be hidden when they develop in places that do not get much exposure to the sun’s rays. These are commonly found in spaces between the toes, soles, genitals, or on the palm. For instance, one can detect melanoma under the nails, like toenails and fingernails, in the mouth, urinary tract, digestive tract, the mucous membrane lining the nose, mouth, anus, vagina, urinary tract, and even in the eye.