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Signs
and Symptoms
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A
change in the size, shape, color, or feel of an existing
mole. An asymmetrical mole with irregular borders and
different color that is increasing in size (larger than 5
mm) should arouse suspicion.
-
Melanoma
may also appear as a new mole that might be abnormal
looking.
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Itching
and scaling over an existing mole might be an early sign of
melanoma.
-
In
later stages the mole might become hard, lumpy and sometimes
may bleed or ooze.
Stages
of Melanoma
The
following stages are used for melanoma:
Stage
0: In stage
0, the melanoma cells are found only in the outer layer of skin
cells and have not invaded deeper tissues.
Stage
I: Melanoma
in stage I is no more than 1 millimeter thick. The outer layer
(epidermis) of skin may appear scraped (ulceration). Or, the
tumor is between 1 and 2 millimeters thick but there is no
ulceration. The melanoma cells have not spread to nearby lymph
nodes.
Stage
II: The
tumor is at least 1 millimeter thick. The tumor is between 1 and
2 millimeters thick with ulceration. Or, the thickness of the
tumor is more than 2 millimeters. There may be ulceration. The
melanoma cells have not spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage
III: The
melanoma cells have spread to nearby tissues but not to lymph
nodes or the melanoma cells have spread to one or more nearby
lymph nodes.
Stage
IV: The
melanoma cells spread to other organs (distant metastasis), to
lymph nodes, or to skin areas far away from the original tumor.
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