What Increases Your Risk

Risk factors for melanoma include:¹

• Exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
  • Blistering sunburns at any time of life
  • Intense sun exposure, every now and then
• Skin characteristics.
  • Fair skin that doesn't tan and tends to sunburn or freckle
  • Numerous moles and/or more than one atypical mole
  • A large mole you had since birth
• Eye or hair color.
  • Blue or green eyes
  • Red or blond hair
• A personal or family history of melanoma.
• Certain gene changes.
• Xeroderma pigmentosum, a skin disease.

When To Call a Doctor

The most important warning sign for melanoma is a change in size, shape, or color of a mole or other skin growth (such as a birthmark). Call your doctor if you have:

• Any change in a mole, including size, shape, color, soreness, or pain.
• A bleeding mole.
• A discolored area under a fingernail or toenail not caused by an injury.
• A general darkening of the skin unrelated to sun exposure.

Call your doctor immediately if you have been diagnosed with melanoma and:

• You have trouble breathing or swallowing.
• You cough up or spit up blood (hemoptysis).
• You have blood in your vomit or bowel movement.
• Your urine or bowel movement is black, and the blackness is not caused by taking iron or Pepto-Bismol.

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting, or surveillance, is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment. Watchful waiting is not appropriate for melanoma. See your doctor if you have any suspicious changes in a mole or other skin growth. Melanoma can be cured if it is diagnosed early, before it grows or spreads.

Who To See

The following health professionals can help diagnose melanoma:

• Family medicine doctor
• Internist
• Dermatologist
• Nurse practitioner
• Physician assistant

If melanoma is suspected, a biopsy is needed to make a diagnosis. Your doctor will remove a sample of tissue so that a pathologist can examine it under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

If further treatment or excision is needed, melanoma can be treated by a dermatologist, surgeon, plastic or reconstructive surgeon, or medical oncologist.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.