--- title: "Melanoma skin cancer: Symptoms & Treatment | HealthAnswers" description: "Melanoma — dangerous skin cancer from moles, ABCDE warning signs, diagnosis, and NHS treatment including surgery and immunotherapy." url: https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/melanoma/ robots: noindex --- # Melanoma skin cancer: Symptoms & Treatment | HealthAnswers Health A–Z Melanoma — dangerous skin cancer from moles, ABCDE warning signs, diagnosis, and NHS treatment including surgery and immunotherapy. Written by HealthAnswers editorial team Medically reviewed by [HealthAnswers UK doctor review panel](https://healthanswers.co.uk/our-doctors/) Reviewed 3 July 2026 ## Quick answer What is melanoma skin cancer? Melanoma is the most serious skin cancer — develops from melanocytes often in existing or new moles. Warning signs include asymmetry, irregular borders, colour variation, diameter over 6mm, and evolution (changing). See a GP within 2 weeks for suspicious mole — urgent referral on 2-week wait pathway. Thin melanomas cured by excision; advanced disease treated with immunotherapy (nivolumab, pembrolizumab). Protect skin from sunburn — major preventable risk factor. ## Who is this page for? This page is for people in the UK who want a plain-English overview of Melanoma skin cancer, including when to seek help and what NHS care usually involves. It explains general information, not what is wrong with you personally. ## Who should skip this page? Skip this page if you need a diagnosis, a prescription, or emergency care. It cannot replace a GP, pharmacist, NHS 111 or 999. If you are in immediate danger, call 999; for urgent advice that is not life-threatening, call 111 in England, Scotland or Wales, or use your GP out-of-hours service in Northern Ireland. On this page 7 sections ## Key facts about melanoma skin cancer - Melanoma accounts for most skin cancer deaths despite being less common than basal cell and squamous cell cancers. - ABCDE rule helps identify suspicious moles — evolution (change) is most important single sign. - UK incidence rising — sunburn in childhood and sunbed use increase risk. - Excision biopsy with histology confirms — never shave suspicious pigmented lesions. - Stage at diagnosis predicts prognosis — thin melanoma ( ## Melanoma — the mole that kills if ignored **Melanoma** arises from **melanocytes** — pigment cells — **~16,000 UK cases yearly** — **rising incidence**. It causes **most skin cancer deaths** despite **fewer cases** than **non-melanoma skin cancers**. **Early thin melanoma** — **>95% 10-year survival** — **late metastatic** — **immunotherapy era** improved but **still serious**. See [mole changes](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/mole-changes/) symptom guide. ## Warning signs — ABCDE + ugly duckling **A**symmetry **B**order irregularity **C**olour variation **D**iameter >6mm (not threshold alone) **E**volution — **change** — **most important** **Ugly duckling** — mole **different from all your others** **Amelanotic melanoma** — **pink/red** — **delayed diagnosis risk** **Acral lentiginous** — **palms, soles, nails** — not sun-related ## Risk factors - sunburn history - sunbed use - fair skin , many freckles/moles - family history melanoma - immunosuppression - ** previous melanoma** — 10% get second ## Diagnosis **GP dermatoscopy** — **7-point checklist**, **weighted checklist** **2-week wait** **excision biopsy** — **full thickness** — **never shave** **Histology:** - Breslow thickness — mm depth — prognosis - ulceration - mitotic rate - margins **Staging:** - sentinel lymph node biopsy — Breslow ≥1mm or selected thinner ## Treatment by stage **Stage 0 (in situ):** - wide local excision **Stage I–II:** - excision — margins per guidelines (e.g. 1–2cm by depth) - SLNB informs staging **Stage III:** - lymph node dissection if macroscopic nodes - adjuvant pembrolizumab/nivolumab — stage III resected **Stage IV:** - immunotherapy — pembrolizumab, nivolumab, ipilimumab+nivo - BRAF/MEK inhibitors — BRAF V600 mutation - TIL therapy — specialist ## Prevention - no sunbeds - SPF 30+ , reapply - shade 11–3 - protect children **Vitamin D** — **diet/supplement** if avoiding sun — **do not burn for vitamin D** ## Melanoma vs basal cell carcinoma | | Melanoma | BCC | | --- | --- | --- | | Pigment | Often dark | Pearly, rolled edge | | Metastasis | Yes | Rare | | Urgency | 2WW | 2WW if suspected | Non-melanoma skin cancers — **common, rarely fatal** — separate guide if needed. **Changing mole** — **2-week GP** — **excision takes minutes**, **metastatic melanoma takes lives**. ## ! When to see a GP about melanoma skin cancer See a GP within 2 weeks for new mole, changing mole, or mole looking different from others (ugly duckling sign). 2-week wait skin cancer referral. Seek urgent review for bleeding mole, rapid growth, or new pigmented lesion in older age. Whole-body skin check if many moles or strong family history — dermatology referral. ## Common questions about melanoma skin cancer What does melanoma look like? Often brown or black patch or lump — may be pink or skin-coloured (amelanotic). Asymmetrical shape, irregular border, multiple colours within one mole, larger than 6mm, or changing size/shape/colour/itch/bleed. Can appear anywhere including soles, nails, and mucosa — not only sun-exposed sites. What is the ABCDE rule for moles? Asymmetry — halves differ. Border — irregular or blurred. Colour — uneven shades. Diameter — often over 6mm (but small melanomas exist). Evolving — any change most concerning — see GP promptly. Is melanoma curable? Thin early melanoma — excision with appropriate margins cures most. Sentinel lymph node biopsy guides staging in thicker melanomas. Stage IV — immunotherapy and targeted therapy (BRAF/MEK inhibitors if BRAF mutated) improve survival — not always curable but long remissions possible. Does sunburn cause melanoma? Intermittent intense UV exposure and sunburn — especially childhood — major risk factor. UV from sunbeds also carcinogenic — illegal for under-18s in UK. Protect with shade, clothing, SPF 30+ broad spectrum, avoid peak sun 11am–3pm. Should I worry about every mole? Most moles are benign naevi. Worry if changing, looks unlike your other moles, new after age 40, or symptomatic (bleeding, itching persistently). Dermatoscopy by trained GP or dermatologist improves accuracy — avoids unnecessary excisions and catches melanoma early. ## Sources - [NHS — Melanoma skin cancer](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/melanoma/) - [NICE — Suspected cancer recognition](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12) - [Melanoma UK](https://www.melanomauk.org.uk/)