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see also www.dermnet.org.nz/lesions/melanoma.html

Melanoma

What is it?

A melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It grows from special cells in the skin called melanocytes. Most melanomas are a brown or blackish colour and look like a freckle, mole or spot. They can begin in moles, but most begin in normal skin.

Who gets melanoma?

About 1 in 60 people will get a melanoma. It is seen most often in people aged 30 years, but it can occur in younger people.

Why do they occur?

We do not know why all of them begin, but they are much more likely to occur in people who have a lot of exposure to the sun. Queenslanders have one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world. In spite of this, they do not only occur in areas exposed to the sun-they can occur all over the body.

How do I know if I have a melanoma?

Only a few moles go on to become melanomas. Any changes that occur in a mole should raise suspicion. Changes may include:

• any change in the colour of the mole
• an increase in size, or spread to surrounding skin
• thickening of the mole
• bleeding
• itching
• In fact, any change in a mole may be a warning, and should be discussed with your doctor.

What can be done?

Once suspicion is raised about a mole, it should be removed by your doctor. It will then be sent away to be looked at under a microscope, to check if it is a melanoma. Further treatment depends on the result of this test.

Can it be cured?

If melanomas are removed early, they can be completely cured. Over 95 per cent of patients are cured with early removal.

Prevention is the best cure!

• To decrease your chances of getting a melanoma, you should protect yourself from the sun. These rules should be followed:
• Try to avoid direct sunlight when the sun is strongest (from 10 am to 3 pm).
• Always wear a broad-brimmed hat and T-shirt in the sun.
• Use a factor 15+ sunscreen on exposed skin and renew it regularly.
• Sunbaking might give you a good tan, but it is also going to increase your chances of getting a melanoma, and so you should avoid it.

Copyright 1995: John Murtagh, Professor of General Practice
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia