Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that commonly presents itself as brownish moles on the legs of women and the central part of the body on men. These growths can resemble benign moles, but have distinct characteristics and can often be detected by following the asymmetry, border, color, diameter, and evolution (ABCDE) criteria.
The majority of melanomas are asymmetrical (A) and tend to have uneven or notched borders (B). They also generally have varied shades of brown, tan, or black, whereas benign moles are typically one uniform color (C). As melanoma lesions expand in size, they may also display hues of red, white, or blue. Regarding diameter (D), if the lesion is bigger than 6 millimeters it should immediately be checked by a doctor. Evolution (E), meanwhile, covers any changes in the lesion's appearance or new symptoms such as bleeding or itching.
While these signs can be of concern, the good news is that early detection by following the ABCDE criteria makes a dramatic difference in the melanoma survival rate. The five-year survival rate for Americans whose melanoma is diagnosed early is 99 percent. This falls to 65 percent if the cancer has spread to the patient's lymph nodes.
