Melanoma, also called malignant melanoma, is a rare type of skin cancer. Melanoma is serious because the cancer can spread to other organs in the body. When cancer spreads it is known as metastasis. Melanoma can start in an existing mole but it can also develop in normal-looking skin.
How common is melanoma?
Melanoma is relatively rare and makes up 10% of all skin cancer cases. However, melanoma is also responsible for most deaths due to skin cancer. Approximately 2,000 people die every year in England and Wales due to melanoma.
The main cause of melanoma is believed to be over-exposure to the sun. Overusing sunbeds and sunlamps may also increase your risk of developing melanoma.
Outlook
The outlook for melanoma depends on how far the cancer has progressed when treatment begins. If melanoma is diagnosed and treated in its early stages, the outlook is good and there is a high chance of it being cured.
If diagnosis and treatment do not begin until the melanoma has reached an advanced stage, the outlook is poor and the chances of being completely cured are low.
