• Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers - Other Skin Cancers
• Highlights
• Introduction
• Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
• Precancerous Skin Conditions
• Causes
• Risk Factors

Melanoma

Melanoma accounts for only 5% of all skin cancers, yet it results in most of the skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. About 62,720 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed in the United States during 2009.

At first, melanoma cells are found in the epidermis and top layers of the dermis. However, once they grow downward into the dermis, the cancer can come into contact with lymph and blood vessels, and from there spread to other parts of the body. The thicker the...