Symptoms of Melanoma

Many people first notice melanoma when it forms a spot or lesion on the top of the skin. The spot may appear different from your moles or freckles, especially if it has an uneven border, unusual color, or change in growth. Regularly looking at your skin for an outlier skin lesion, or “ugly duckling” spot can help to detect melanoma earlier, when it is more curable.

Some types of melanoma form a bump and begin to bleed, but others do not. Any change in an exisiting mole or new spot on your skin that does not go away or continues to grow should be evalulated by your health provider. If melanoma is not detected early, it can spread to other parts of the body such as nearby lymph nodes. Eventually, it can spread to more distant body areas.