Living with Skin Cancer - Melanoma

Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer. Melanoma begins in the melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin color. Signs of melanoma can include a new spot on the skin or a spot that has changed in size, shape, or color. Another sign is the "ugly duckling sign" which is a spot on the skin that looks different from all the other spots. Skin cancer in general – including melanoma, basal cell skin cancer, and squamous cell skin cancer – is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. Melanoma can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and/or chemotherapy. The survival rate for melanoma skin cancer can vary depending on stage of diagnosis, type of treatment, and other factors.

For more information on melanoma, read the American Cancer Society's Melanoma Detailed Guide.

If you have been affected by melanoma, please be sure to take some time to read others' experiences, share your own experiences, and ask or answer questions. Don't forget to view our Beginner's Guide to Cancer.