While the ABCDE plan is a general guide for melanoma detection, it will not help detect the early stages of nodular melanoma. This type of melanoma is generally symmetrical, has regular borders, and may be solid black, blue-black or pink. It may also miss amelanotic melanoma, which is not pigmented.
You should keep in mind that the most important warning sign of melanoma is a new or changingskin lesion, regardless of size or color. Changes that occur over a short period of time (particularly over a few weeks) are most worrisome.
Growth Pattern
Melanomas tend to grow in stages:
- Most melanomas tend to be flat initially and spread laterally across the skin surface as they grow. At this early stage, which can last from 1 to 5 years or longer, removal of the growth has an excellent chance of curing the melanoma. Still, there is a chance that some of these melanomas are invasive, and they should be treated aggressively.
- Lesions that become raised or dome-shaped over at least part of their surface indicate that downward growth has occurred. In some cases, this growth is very rapid, occurring over a period of weeks to months.
Any suspicious lesion should be checked immediately, particularly if it has grown quickly or is partially flat and partially raised.
Location
Common sites of melanoma in men are the head, neck, and trunk; and in women, the arms or legs. Any area of the skin may be affected, however, in either gender. You may not notice melanomas if they appear on areas that are difficult to examine, such as the scalp or the back. Less common sites for melanoma include the fingers, palms, soles of the feet, the genitals, lips, or under the fingernails or toenails. The presence of a dark lesion under the nail that runs into the adjoining skin and doesn't heal may signal melanoma. Rarely, melanomas appear in the mouth, in the iris of the eye, or in the retina at the back of the eye, where they may be detected during dental or eye examinations.
 | Click the icon to see an image of melanoma. |
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