A malignant melanoma is a cancerous tumour that develops in skin cells called melanocytes.
Malignant melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer because the cancer can spread to other organs in the body (metastasis). The cancer can start in an existing mole or in normal looking skin.
How common is malignant melanoma?
Malignant melanoma is relatively rare, accounting for 10% of all skin cancer cases. However, malignant melanoma is also responsible for the most deaths. In England and Wales, approximately 1,500 people die every year due to malignant melanoma.
Malignant melanoma is triggered by over-exposure to the sun. Overusing sunbeds and sunlamps can also increase your risk of developing malignant melanoma.
Prognosis
The prognosis for malignant melanoma depends on how far the cancer has progressed when treatment begins. If malignant melanoma is diagnosed and treated in its early stages, the prognosis is good and the prospects of achieving a cure are high.
If diagnosis and treatment does not begin until the malignant melanoma has reached an advanced stage, the prognosis is poor and the chances of achieving a complete cure are low.
Therefore it is very important to regularly check your skin for any unusual changes, such as a mole that is getting bigger, or changing colour. See the 'symptoms' section for more information about this.
