Skin cancer is an abnormal growth or spread of damaged skin cells. The non-melanoma skin cancers (basal cell and squamous cell) make up 98% of all skin cancers. Therefore, malignant melanoma makes up only 2% of all skin cancers, but are classed as the most dangerous.

Melanoma starts from the melanocytes (cells in skin that produce melanin and skin pigment). These cells are the cause of freckles and moles and produce the brown colour of a suntan.

Melanomas can occur anywhere on the body, not only on areas exposed to the sun although exposure the ulraviolet radiation in sunlight is the main facor that causes skin cells to become cancerous cells. Early detection and treatment are the best defence against melanoma, so if you are concerned about an unusual freckle or mole, look at the 'Monitoring' section for the options available.

If Melanoma is not treated quickly, it may spread via the lymphatic system to other areas of the body, and this is referred to as Metastaic Melanoma. The various conventional and alternative treatment options for melanoma are provided in the relavant sections.

Fast Facts

• Melanoma is one of the most deadly cancers and is the cancer most likely to affect 15-39 year olds.
• Melanoma is becoming more prevalent and has the fastest growing incidence rate of any form of cancer. It now ranks as the third most common form of cancer in Australia.
• Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world and Western Australia is second only to Queensland in incidence rates.
• There are over 1,000 new cases of melanoma diagnosed in Western Australia each year. All cases have to be reported to the WA Cancer Registry.
• Higher rates of melanoma deaths among older men are most likely due to late detection and poorer outcomes from more advanced disease stages.
• As melanoma can move from a primary site to other, secondary sites in the body, it can be very difficult to treat successfully. A key barrier to successful treatment is that often there are few visible symptoms until the cancer has progressed to a late stage.
• Melanoma is one of the most preventable forms of cancer.