What is malignant melanoma?
Malignant melanoma is skin cancer. It’s more common in women than men, and your risk also increases as you get older. It develops from cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes make melanin, which gives skin its colour. Melanin also protects us from ultraviolet (UV) radiation which causes sunburn.
The most common type of melanoma is superficial spreading melanoma. When it starts, it spreads across the skin – not down into the lower layers. It is easier to treat if it’s caught early.
Other types include:
- Nodular melanoma – this develops faster and grows downwards into lower layers of skin if it’s not treated. It usually starts as a new lump on the surface. It can bleed or ooze
- Lentigo maligna melanoma – usually affects older people who have spent a lot of time outside in the past. It grows slowly over many years. It can form lumps later on
- Acral lentiginous melanoma – this cancer is rare and usually develops on the palms and soles of darker skinned people
- Amelanotic melanoma – another rare type. It can sometimes have no colour at all or be very pale
Most people are over 65 when it’s discovered, but it can also affect younger people. Melanoma can also spread to other areas in the body (metastasise).
What causes malignant melanoma?
The leading cause is UV radiation from being in the sun or using sunbeds. Other reasons include:
- A family history of melanoma
- A rare type of birthmark known as giant congenital melanocytic naevus
- Exposing your skin to intense periods in the sun – for example, during a holiday
- Having fair skin with fair or reddish hair so you burn easily
- Having had melanoma or other cancer in the past – especially breast cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, leukaemia, some childhood cancers
- Having reduced immunity
- HIV
- Moles – the more moles, the higher the risk
- Other medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and sarcoidosis
What are the symptoms of malignant melanoma?
Your doctor will examine your skin for anything that looks abnormal. They may refer you to a skin specialist. Tests include:
Bleeds
Changes shape or colour
Gets bigger
Is painful or inflamed
Itches
Looks asymmetricle
Having these symptoms doesn’t mean you have malignant melanoma, but it’s best to get them checked by a doctor. The sooner your cancer is detected, the better the chances of treating it successfully.
Tests and diagnosis
Your doctor will examine your skin for anything that looks abnormal. They may refer you to a skin specialist. Tests include:
- Biopsy – removing all or part of the mole to check for signs of cancer
- Dermoscopy – looking closely at your skin, using a kind of magnifying glass, and taking photographs to monitor any changes
In some cases, you may also have:
- Scans including ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET-CT
- Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy

Treatments we offer
Treatments depend on how advanced the melanoma is. At the early stages, melanoma can be treated with surgery alone. In advanced stages, treatment may involve chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy kills cancer cells. It’s used in the early stages of cancer treatment or after it has started to spread. It can also be used to relieve pain and discomfort from cancer that has spread.
Chemotherapy is medication that treats your cancer. The drugs kill cancer cells, preventing them from dividing and spreading further.
Radiotherapy kills cancer cells. It’s used in the early stages of cancer treatment or after it has started to spread. It can also be used to relieve pain and discomfort from cancer that has spread.
Chemotherapy is medication that treats your cancer. The drugs kill cancer cells, preventing them from dividing and spreading further.



Meet our doctors

Everything we do is focused on designing better care for our patients. With a network of 12 specialist oncology treatment centres across the UK, we provide the most up-to-date treatments and technology as standard.
We attract and retain some of the most experienced doctors in the country, who all have a passion for improving patient outcomes and specialise in the treatment of different types of cancer.
Unit 710, Centennial Park, Centennial Avenue, Elstree, Borehamwood, WD6 3SZ
+44 (0)203 613 9356
The Park Centre for oncology, Sherwood Lodge Drive, Burntstump Country Park, Nottingham, NG5 8RX
+44 (0)1156 762 989
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