Melanoma skin cancer

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It starts in cells in the skin called melanocytes.

Symptoms of melanoma include a change to a mole, freckle or normal patch of skin. Read more about when to go and see your GP. 

See pictures of abnormal moles that might be developing into melanoma skin cancer and also pictures of melanomas.

Your risk of developing melanoma skin cancer depends on many things. In the UK, too much ultraviolet radiation causes around 85 out of 100 melanomas (around 85%). Melanoma skin cancer is the 5th most common cancer overall in the UK.

You usually start by seeing your GP and they might refer you to a specialist for more tests. Find out more about tests and screening for melanoma. 

The stage of a melanoma tells you how deeply it has grown into the skin, and how far it has spread.

Your treatment depends on where your melanoma is, how deep it is, whether it has spread anywhere else in your body and your general health. Find out about the different treatments for melanoma.

Survival depends on many factors. No one can tell you exactly how long you will live. These are general statistics based on large groups of people. They can not tell you what will happen in individual cases. 

Getting practical and emotional support can help you cope with a diagnosis of cancer, life during treatment and life after cancer.

Advanced melanoma means your melanoma has spread from where it started to another part of the body. Find out where melanoma can spread to and about how treatment can control symptoms.

Research is looking into the causes and diagnosis of melanoma, and whether new treatments are safe and better than those currently available.