National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

Sun-Damaged Skin Slideshow

Skin cancer is the most common form of human cancer. It is estimated that over 1 million new cases occur annually. The annual rates of all forms of skin cancer are increasing each year, representing a growing public concern. It has also been estimated that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once.

The term "skin cancer" refers to three different conditions. From the least to the most dangerous, they are:

• basal cell carcinoma
• squamous cell carcinoma
• melanoma (the most dangerous)

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It begins in certain cells in the skin called melanocytes. Each year more than 50,000 people in the United States find out they have melanoma. To understand melanoma, it is helpful to know about the skin and about melanocytes, what they do, how they grow, and what happens when they become cancerous.

What are signs and symptoms of melanoma?

Often, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, or color of an existing mole. It can also appear as a new, abnormal, or "ugly-looking" mole.

Thinking of "ABCD" can help you remember what to watch for:

A  Asymmetry - The shape of one half does not match the other.

B  Border - The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.

C  Color - The color is uneven. Shades of black, brown, and tan may be present . Areas of white, gray,     red, or blue may be seen.

D  Diameter - There is a change in size.

For more in-depth information on melanoma and other skin cancers, please see our information on:

• Melanoma 101
• Melanoma
• Skin Cancer
• Melanoma/Skin Cancer Prevention in Women
• Melanoma/Skin Cancer Prevention in Men
• Sunburn and Sun-Sensitizing Drugs
• Sun Protection - Kids at the Beach
• Skin Center, edited by Alan Rockoff, MD, FAAD, Rockoff Dermatology and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston.
• Cancer Center, edited by Michael Lill, M.D., Chairman of the Cancer Committee at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center