Melanoma

Melanoma Melanoma Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. It begins in cells in the skin called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its natural color. When skin is exposed to the sun, melanocytes produce more pigment, causing the skin to tan, or darken. Sometimes, clusters of melanocytes and surrounding tissue form noncancerous growths called moles. Moles are very common. Most people have between 10 and 40 moles. Moles may be pink, tan, brown, or a color that is very close to the persons normal skin tone. Moles can also be flat or raised and are usually round or over and smaller than a pencil eraser. How To Do a Skin Self-Exam Your doctor or nurse may recommend that you do a regular skin self-exam. If your doctor has taken photos of your skin, comparing your skin to the photos can help you check for changes. The best time to do a skin self-exam is after a shower or bath. You should check your skin in a well-lighted room using a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror. It’s best to begin by learning where your birthmarks, moles, and blemishes are and what melanoma, skin, lymph, tumor, nodes, cells, therapy, treatment, stage, cancer, called, surgery, spread, remove, doctor, body, chemotherapy, surgeon, tissue, people, nearby, check, biological, thick, sentinel, removed, patient, radiation, node, moles, drugs, between, area, after, removes, help