Melanoma
Skin Cancer
What is melanoma?
Who gets melanoma
Symptoms
Symptoms might include a new, unusual growth or a change in an existing mole. Melanomas can occur anywhere on the body
Skin: darkening of the skin or lumps
Also common: bigger mole diameter, mole asymmetry, mole color changes, or skin mole with irregular
Survival rate
Stage IA: The 5-year survival rate is around 97%. The 10-year survival is around 95%.
Stage IB: The 5-year survival rate is around 92%. The 10-year survival is around 86%.
Stage IIA: The 5-year survival rate is around 81%. The 10-year survival is around 67%.
Stage IIB: The 5-year survival rate is around 70%. The 10-year survival is around 57%.
Stage IIC: The 5-year survival rate is around 53%. The 10-year survival is around 40%.
Stage IIIA: The 5-year survival rate is around 78%. The 10-year survival is around 68%.*
Stage IIIB: The 5-year survival rate is around 59%. The 10-year survival is around 43%.
Stage IIIC: The 5-year survival rate is around 40%. The 10-year survival is around 24%.
Stage IV: The 5-year survival rate is about 15% to 20%. The 10-year survival is about 10% to 15%. The outlook is better if the spread is only to distant parts of the skin or distant lymph nodes rather than to other organs, and if the blood level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is normal.
Benign vs malignant
Stages
Types of lesions
How is it treated
Treatable by a medical professional
Treatment may involve surgery, radiation, medications, or in some cases chemotherapy
Prescription
Interferon alfa-2b by injection, Vemurafenib (Zelboraf), Dabrafenib
Also common
Lifestyle: Sunscreen
Procedures: Skin grafting, Radiation therapy, Mohs surgery, Wide local