Melanoma

Signs of Melanoma

Common signs of skin cancer include:

• Moles or spots have an irregular shape and border 
• Uneven colors 
• Moles or spots that are larger than a pea
• Moles or spots that evolve or change in weeks and/or months

Melanoma is a type of cancer that affects the skin, the body's largest organ. Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all types of cancers and it’s estimated that more than one million Americans develop skin cancer every year.

What Melanoma Risk Factors?

A few melanoma risk factors include:

• Light or fair skin
• Severe sunburns 
• Excessive exposure to UV lights (tanning beds, UV rays, etc.)
• Family genetics of melanoma

Common Type of Moles

Congenital Moles

When a mole is present at birth, it is called a congenital mole or congenital nevus. About one percent of people have congenital moles and this mole may be at increased risk of turning into sun cancer.

Acquired Moles

Account for most moles and usually develop during childhood or early adulthood. These moles are usually smaller than a quarter-inch and are thought to be due to excessive sun exposure. Most acquired moles will not develop into skin cancer.

Atypical Moles

As known as dysplastic nevi are larger than a pencil eraser and shaped irregularly. These moles are usually uneven in color with a dark brown center. The borders of atypical moles may be irregular with a lighter or reddish color and unevenness or black dots around the edge. These moles tend to run in families and they may be at increased risk of developing into skin cancer.

Personalized Treatments

Depending on your condition, determines the plan of action for treatment. However, the most common treatment is topical high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy. At CHRISTUS, you can trust that we will help you develop an individualized treatment plan for your condition.