The list of medical symptoms mentioned in various sources for Melanoma may include:
Note that Melanoma symptoms usually refers to various medical symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Melanoma signs may often refer to those signs that are only noticable by a doctor.
Malignant melanoma usually begins as a mottled, light brown to black flat blemish with irregular edges and is at least one-quarter inch in size. It can turn red, blue or white, or bleed and crust on the surface. (Source: excerpt from Skin Cancer: NWHIC)
Melanoma can occur on any skin surface. In men, it is often found on the trunk (the area from the shoulders to the hips) or the head and neck. In women, melanoma often develops on the lower legs. Melanoma is rare in black people and others with dark skin. When it does develop in dark-skinned people, it tends to occur under the fingernails or toenails, or on the palms or soles. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Melanoma: NCI)
Often, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of an existing mole. Most melanomas have a black or blue-black area. Melanoma also may appear as a new, black, abnormal, or "ugly-looking" mole.
If you have a question or concern about something on your skin, do not use these pictures to try to diagnose it yourself. Pictures are useful examples, but they cannot take the place of a doctor's examination.
Thinking of "ABCD" can help you remember what to watch for:
Asymmetry -- The shape of one half does not match the other.
Border -- The edges are often ragged, notched, blurred, or irregular in outline; the pigment may spread into the surrounding skin.
Color -- The color is uneven. Shades of black, brown, and tan may be present. Areas of white, grey, red, pink, or blue also may be seen.
Diameter -- There is a change in size, usually an increase. Melanomas are usually larger than the eraser of a pencil (5 mm or 1/4 inch).
Melanomas can vary greatly in the ways they look. Many show all of the ABCD features. However, some may show changes or abnormalities in only one or two of the ABCD features.
Early melanomas may be found when a pre-existing mole changes slightly -- such as forming a new black area. Other frequent findings are newly formed fine scales or itching in a mole. In more advanced melanoma, the texture of the mole may change. For example, it may become hard or lumpy. Although melanomas may feel different and more advanced tumors may itch, ooze, or bleed, melanomas usually do not cause pain. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Melanoma: NCI)
More detailed symptom information may be found on the symptoms of Melanoma article. In addition to the above medical information, to get a full picture of the possible signs or symptoms of this condition and also possibly the signs and symptoms of its related medical conditions, it may be necessary to examine symptoms that may be caused by:
These general reference articles may be related to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
The phrase "signs of Melanoma" should, strictly speaking, refer only to those signs and symptoms of Melanoma that are not readily apparent to the patient. The word "symptoms of Melanoma" is the more general meaning; see symptoms of Melanoma.
The signs and symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Melanoma. This medical information about signs and symptoms for Melanoma has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Melanoma signs or Melanoma symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Melanoma may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Melanoma symptoms.
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