It’s Melanoma — Here’s What to Do Next

Come summer, beach days, pool swims, and all things outdoors call your name. But it’s essential to be careful about time in the sun. Sun exposure is a major contributor to skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States. Melanoma (one type of skin cancer) is responsible for a large majority of skin cancer deaths.¹

Melanoma can develop from existing moles or appear as new spots on the skin. The earlier melanoma is detected, the more treatment options are available. So, get screened regularly and pay attention to any changes in your skin.

For more valuable melanoma tips and info, read on.

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5 Common Signs of Melanoma

Doctors often use the ABCDE acronym to identify melanoma’s warning signs.² Each letter represents a specific symptom or characteristic to watch for.

• A – Asymmetry: One half of a mole differs from the other in shape or size.
• B – Borders: The edges of a mole are irregular — ragged or blurred — rather than clearly defined.
• C – Color: Instead of being one uniform color, the mole has uneven shades or contains several colors, such as black, brown, tan, white, red, or blue.
• D – Diameter: The mole is larger than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser).
• E – Evolving – The mole changes in size, shape, color, or elevation or has new symptoms, such as itching, bleeding, oozing, and crusting.

Leah Adams

"I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma.” 

Leah Adams discovered an unusual mole on her chest and went to the doctor. “I had my first-ever skin check,” says Leah, “and sure enough, the only mole they removed was the one on my chest.” Biopsy results revealed a stage IA (early stage) malignant melanoma tumor. 

Shortly after Leah’s diagnosis, her doctor told her about the DecisionDx^®-Melanoma test. “He recommended it,” Leah explains, “because the test can let you know, based on your tumor biology, whether you’re low or high risk for your cancer spreading or coming back.” Leah agreed to take the test and learned she was low risk.

Although waiting on the test’s feedback “was scary,” says Leah, it also helped her move forward after her diagnosis. “The test can give you next steps in your own education and awareness. Cancer opens your eyes, wakes you up, so if you have access to info that helps you live a better life, take it.”³