Question
What are common symptoms of melanoma cancer?
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can develop from melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in the skin. Common symptoms of melanoma include:
1. **Changes in Existing Moles**: Existing moles may change in size, shape, or color. This can include asymmetry, irregular borders, or uneven coloration.
2. **New Skin Growths**: The appearance of new moles or growths on the skin that are unusual in shape, color, or size.
3. **Color Variation**: Melanomas often display multiple colors within the same lesion, including shades of brown, black, tan, red, white, or blue.
4. **Unusual Borders**: The borders of melanomas are often irregular, blurred, or jagged rather than smooth.
5. **Diameter**: Melanomas are typically larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, but they can be smaller.
6. **Evolution**: The "E" in the ABCDE rule stands for evolution, referring to any change in size, shape, color, or elevation of a mole over time.
7. **Itching or Pain**: Melanomas may be itchy, tender, or painful to the touch.
8. **Bleeding or Oozing**: Sores that do not heal or that bleed may be a warning sign.
It's important to perform regular skin self-examinations and consult a healthcare professional if you notice any potentially suspicious changes. Early detection is key in treating melanoma effectively.
1. **Changes in Existing Moles**: Existing moles may change in size, shape, or color. This can include asymmetry, irregular borders, or uneven coloration.
2. **New Skin Growths**: The appearance of new moles or growths on the skin that are unusual in shape, color, or size.
3. **Color Variation**: Melanomas often display multiple colors within the same lesion, including shades of brown, black, tan, red, white, or blue.
4. **Unusual Borders**: The borders of melanomas are often irregular, blurred, or jagged rather than smooth.
5. **Diameter**: Melanomas are typically larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, but they can be smaller.
6. **Evolution**: The "E" in the ABCDE rule stands for evolution, referring to any change in size, shape, color, or elevation of a mole over time.
7. **Itching or Pain**: Melanomas may be itchy, tender, or painful to the touch.
8. **Bleeding or Oozing**: Sores that do not heal or that bleed may be a warning sign.
It's important to perform regular skin self-examinations and consult a healthcare professional if you notice any potentially suspicious changes. Early detection is key in treating melanoma effectively.