What is malignant melanoma and the symptoms of skin cancer?

Evening Standard

What is skin cancer?The NHS says there are two types — melanoma and non-melanoma.MelanomaA new mole or a change in the appearance of an existing mole is frequently the first indication of skin cancer.Normal moles are typically round or oval, have a smooth edge, and have a diameter of no more than six millimetres.However, size alone does not always indicate skin cancer. A cancerous mole can have a diameter of less than 6mm, and a healthy mole can be larger than this.Signs to look out for include a mole that’s:getting biggerchanging shapechanging colourbleeding or becoming crustyitchy or sore

Transcript

00:00 Hi, I'm Dr. Sooj and I'm going to talk to you about the main symptoms of melanoma skin cancer.

00:04 This is particularly important as we're approaching the summer months.

00:07 Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, but they're most common in sun-exposed areas.

00:11 Make sure you check your skin regularly for any unusual changes.

00:14 You can use a mirror or ask a friend or partner to check areas that you can't see.

00:18 Melanomas are often an uneven shape.

00:20 They may have two different shaped halves and uneven edges.

00:23 They can also be a mix of two or more colours, whereas normal moles are only one colour.

00:27 Whereas normal moles are usually small, melanomas tend to be bigger, often more than 6mm wide.

00:33 You should also be on the lookout for any moles that may change shape, size or colour,

00:36 as these could be a sign of melanoma.

00:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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