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•Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
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•Risk Factors
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•Staging
•Treatment for Melanoma
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Melanoma and other skin cancers - InDepth

Highlights

Introduction

Skin cancer is cancer that starts in the skin cells. Skin cancers are divided into two major groups:

Different skin cancers start in different cells of the skin. To understand how skin cancer develops, it is useful to understand the structure of the skin.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and consists of layers.

Skin layers

The skin is the largest organ of the body. The skin and its components (hair, nails, sweat, and oil glands) make up the integumentary system. One of the main functions of the skin is protection. It protects the body from external factors, such as bacteria, chemicals, and temperature. The skin contains secretions that can kill bacteria, and the pigment melanin provides a chemical defense against ultraviolet light that can damage skin cells. The skin also helps control body temperature.

As a person ages, melanocytes often multiply (proliferate). They form clusters that appear on the skin surface as small, dark, flat, or dome-shaped spots, which are often harmless sunspots called lentigo. While they have nothing to do with the liver, they are often called "liver spots."

Melanin

Melanoma

Melanoma accounts for only about 1% of all skin cancers, yet it results in the most skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The incidence of melanoma has increased by close to 10 times over the last 20 to 30 years.

At first, melanoma cells are found in the epidermis and top layers of the dermis. However, once they grow downward into the dermis, the cancer can come into contact with lymph and blood vessels, and from there spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. The thicker the melanoma, the greater the likelihood that it could spread to distant sites. There are also other factors and proteins expressed by the cancer that allow it to spread and invade blood vessels.

Removing the lesion before it reaches the deeper layers of the skin where it can invade into the blood vessels is important to achieve a cure and minimize the chance of metastasis.

Melanoma in situ

Melanoma in situ is the earliest form of melanoma when the cancer is confined to the epidermis, the top layer of the skin. Because the cancerous cells have not invaded into the dermis, this type is cured surgically with minimal risk for metastasis.

Superficial Spreading Melanoma

Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common type of melanoma. It is flat, asymmetrical, unevenly colored, and usually grows laterally across the surface of the skin. Superficial spreading melanoma accounts for about 70% of melanomas. In men, it occurs most often on the upper back. In women, it is most likely to be seen on the back of the leg. The reason for these locations remains unclear.

Nodular Melanoma

Nodular melanoma appears as a fast-growing brown or black lump, and its characteristics do not always fit the definitions described above. Nodular melanoma accounts for about 5% of melanomas. It is usually seen on the trunk or limbs.

Lentigo Maligna

Lentigo maligna (sometimes called Hutchinson freckle) usually occurs in older people and is marked by flat, mottled, tan-to-brown freckle-like spots with irregular borders. These lesions often appear on the face or other sun-exposed areas and typically grow slowly for 5 to 15 years before cancer appears. Lentigo maligna melanoma accounts for 4% to 15% of melanoma cases.

Acral Lentiginous Melanoma

Although rare, acral lentiginous melanoma is the most common melanoma among African and Asian populations. It commonly appears as a dark patch on the palms, soles, fingers, or toes, under fingernails or toenails, or in mucous membranes.

Several other types of melanomas exist, but they are relatively uncommon.

Melanoma cells often spread first through the lymph vessels or glands. Melanoma cells can also spread by way of blood vessels to various organs, carrying cancer to the liver, lungs, brain, or other sites.

Melanomas tend to grow in stages:

Any suspicious lesion should be checked immediately, especially if it has grown quickly or is partially flat and partially raised.

Common sites of melanoma in men include:

Common sites of melanoma in women include:

However, melanoma can affect any area of the skin. You may not notice melanomas if they appear on areas that are difficult to examine, such as the scalp or back or bottom of the foot.

Less common sites for melanoma include:

A dark lesion under the nail that runs into the nearby skin and doesn't heal may be a sign of melanoma. Darkening of the cuticle in the presence of a dark streak in the nail is a sign of melanoma.

Rarely, melanomas appear in the mouth, iris of the eye, or retina at the back of the eye, where they may be found during dental or eye examinations. While quite rare, melanoma can also develop in the mucous membranes, such as the vagina, esophagus, anus, urogenital tract, and small intestines.

Melanoma

Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Other types of skin cancer are referred to as nonmelanoma skin cancers. The two most common types are called basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Basal cell carcinoma starts in the lowest part of the epidermis, in round cells called basal cells that form the base of the epidermis. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. However, this cancer is rarely fatal and rarely metastasizes. The death rate from nonmelanoma skin cancers has dropped about 30% over the past 30 years.

Basal cell carcinoma often develops later in life in areas that have received the most sun exposure, such as the head, neck, and back. However, some basal cell carcinomas appear in areas not exposed to the sun.

Basal cell carcinomas have many different appearances:

Basal cell cancer

Basal cell carcinoma is a cancerous (malignant) skin tumor involving basal skin cells. Basal cell skin cancers usually occur on areas of skin that are regularly exposed to sunlight or other ultraviolet radiation. Once a suspicious lesion is found, a biopsy is needed to diagnose basal cell cancer. Treatment varies depending on the size, depth, and location of the cancer.

Basal cell carcinomas are sometimes hard to tell from benign skin conditions. For instance, occasionally they arise in unexposed skin, where they may look like an ordinary mole, cyst, or pimple. They may be particularly difficult to tell apart from benign cysts when they occur near the eyes.

Usually, basal cell carcinomas grow slowly. They are rarely deadly. Most basal cell cancers do not need to be treated as an emergency. However, because late treatment can cause disfigurement, they should be removed as early as possible.

Basal cell carcinomas that are most likely to spread include those that are larger than 1 centimeter, scar-like, and those located on the cheek, nose, neck, earlobe, eyelid, or temple.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is the second most common type of skin cancer.

Squamous cell carcinoma develops from flat, scale-like skin cells called keratinocytes, which lie on top of the basal cell layer of the epidermis. Most squamous cell carcinomas occur on sun-exposed areas, largely the forehead, temple, ears, neck, and back of the hands. Burns or other heat-related injured sites are more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma. People who have spent considerable time sunbathing may develop them on their lower legs. Squamous cell carcinomas occur more often than basal cell cancers in African Americans and Asians, and are more common in men than women.

Although squamous cell skin carcinomas usually can be removed completely with no risk of the cancer spreading, they are more likely than basal cell cancers to be invasive and spread elsewhere in the body.

Types of squamous cell carcinoma:

Squamous cell cancer

Getting prompt treatment is important, because squamous cell cancers are more likely than basal cell cancers to spread to local lymph nodes.

Squamous cell cancers most likely to spread include:

People who have had basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers are at increased risk of developing other types of cancer, including:

The younger people are when they get nonmelanoma skin cancer, the higher their risk of developing other cancers.

Merkel cell carcinoma is another type of non-melanoma skin cancer. It is rare, but when it occurs, it tends to spread fast.

Merkel cell carcinoma begins in Merkel cells, a type of skin receptors that are responsible for sensing light touch. These cells are located at the base of the epidermis, the outermost skin layer. It was recently found that infection with a virus called Merkel cell polyoma virus may be the cause of most of these cancers.

The following factors may increase your risk for Merkel cell carcinoma:

Merkel cell carcinoma usually appears as a firm bluish-red swelling or lump and is often located on the head or neck, in areas that are most exposed to the sun.

Precancerous Skin Conditions

Actinic (Solar) Keratosis

Actinic keratosis (also called solar keratosis) is considered to be a precancerous skin lesion caused by chronic or excessive sun exposure. There is an increased risk of skin cancer in patients who have these lesions, but the risk of one specific actinic keratosis turning into squamous cell carcinoma is about 5%. The increased risk of cancers may be due to the fact that heavy sun exposure has been linked to both actinic keratosis and nonmelanoma skin cancers.

Actinic keratosis occurs after years of sun exposure. It appears mostly on sun-exposed skin, such as the face, neck, back of the hands and forearms, upper chest, and upper back. Men may develop keratosis along the rim of the ear.

Actinic keratosis has the following characteristics:

Keratoacanthomas

Keratoacanthomas closely resemble squamous cell cancers and many consider them to be a subset of squamous cell carcinoma. Most of these occur in sun-exposed skin, usually on the hands or face. They are typically skin colored or slightly red when they first develop, but their appearance typically changes:

Some will get better on their own within 1 year, but they almost always scar after healing. Removal by surgery (sometimes by radiation) is recommended. They may also be treated with 5-fluorouracil, either as a cream or injections.

Causes

The sun is the most important cause of prematurely aging skin (photoaging) and skin cancers.

Long-term, repeated exposure to sunlight appears to be responsible for most undesirable consequences of aging skin, including basal cell and squamous cell cancers.

Melanoma is more likely to be caused by intense exposure to sunlight in early life.

UVA and UVB Radiation

When sunlight penetrates the top layers of skin, ultraviolet (UVA or UVB) radiation strikes the DNA inside the skin cells and damages it.

Damaging Effects of UV Radiation

Both UVA and UVB rays cause damage, including genetic injury, wrinkles, lower immunity against infection, aging skin disorders, and cancer, although the mechanisms are not yet fully clear. The following are some ways in which cancer may develop, and some actions the skin uses to defend itself against DNA damage.

Defective Cell Death (Apoptosis)

Apoptosis is the last defense of the immune system. It is a natural process of cell suicide, which occurs when cells are very severely damaged. Apoptosis in the skin kills off cells harmed by UVA so that they do not turn cancerous. The peeling after sunburn is the result of these dead skin cells. However, some gene defects or other factors can interfere with apoptosis. If this occurs, damaged cells can continue to spread, resulting in skin cancer.

Risk Factors

According to the American Cancer Society, the lifetime risk of getting melanoma is about 2% (1 in 50) for White people, 0.1% (1 in 1,000) for Black people, and 0.5% (1 in 200) for Hispanic people. The number of melanoma cases has been increasing over the past 30 years.

Survival rates have been improving, however, and the increase in melanomas has occurred mainly with less aggressive forms of the disease. Some experts believe this is due to earlier diagnosis and increased awareness of the disease, resulting from effective public health programs.

The following factors increase your risk for skin cancer:

Aging may weaken the body's ability to fend off cancers, including melanomas. As a person ages, they lose Langerhans cells that help fight off early skin cancers, possibly setting the stage for skin cancers in later life.

Melanoma in Adults

Melanoma is most common in people over 40 years, although it also can affect young and middle-aged people. The average age at diagnosis is 57 years. Men are more likely to have invasive and fatal melanoma than women, although some research suggests that the higher rates are only because men fail to get suspicious skin changes diagnosed before they become dangerous. The rate in women levels off somewhat after age 50 years; researchers think menopause could have some sort of protective effect.

Melanoma in Children

Melanoma is rare in children under age 10 years. Among children ages 10 to 19 years, it is more common but still rare. Parents should not be too alarmed by every minor skin imperfection in their children but should certainly talk to a dermatologist about any mole that changes rapidly or appears much different than the child's other moles. Children are growing and changing so moles on kids will grow and change normally. However, melanoma is as serious in children as it is in adults, and early detection is still critical. It is also noteworthy that the incidence of melanoma in children and adolescents has been steadily increasing.

Nonmelanoma skin cancers are rare in children and young adults, but they begin to increase significantly in middle age and older. However, the sunlight that one gets when young causes the skin cancers that arise in adulthood.

Skin cancer is associated with both the length and intensity of sun exposure. The risk of melanoma increases with excessive sun exposure during the first 10 to 18 years of life. Sunburns are also dangerous; having 5 or more sunburns doubles the risk of developing skin cancer. The cancer typically arises many years later.

Tanning Devices

Tanning beds and sun lamps increase the risk for developing melanoma and other skin cancers, and the risk increases with frequency, age of use, and length of use. Women in their 20s, as well as people with blond or red hair are especially at risk. The World Health Organization has designated tanning devices as known carcinogens. More governmental restrictions are now in place to prevent young people from accessing these devices.

Phototherapy and Photochemotherapy with PUVA

There is some evidence that long-term treatment for psoriasis and other skin conditions using UVA radiation (PUVA) and UVB may increase the risk for melanoma. If phototherapy is part of your treatment plan for skin disease, one should talk with the dermatologist about the risk of skin cancer developing and be checked regularly.

Ethnic Groups and Complexion

People with light skin; blue, gray, or green eyes; red or blond hair; and lots of freckles are at highest risk for developing all types of skin cancers. The risk increases for those who easily sunburn and rarely tan, particularly if they live close to the equator where sunlight is most intense. However, people with darker complexions are not immune as tanned skin is also sun-damaged skin. In fact, they are often seen by a doctor at a later stage of the disease, resulting in a worse prognosis. People of color must still practice good prevention, such as self-examination, sunscreen, sun protective clothing, avoiding tanning beds, and early detection and treatment by a physician.

Geography plays a role in skin cancer risk, primarily with regard to the intensity and length of sun exposure in certain locations. Studies show an increased incidence of melanomas in populations that previously had a lower incidence, but then migrated to Australia.

People with certain genetic characteristics, such as blue or green eyes, or blonde or red hair, have an increased risk for skin cancers.

Patients diagnosed with melanoma who have a family history of melanoma or nevi are considered to be at increased risk for more invasive cancers. A number of genetic factors are being investigated for their role in the formation of melanomas, including inherited genes and genetic defects that are acquired through the environment (particularly sunlight).

Your genetic makeup and whether or not certain genes mutate in your body can increase your risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers. More studies need to be done to identify which genes play a role and how these affect one's likelihood of developing a skin cancer.

A genetic mutation in a gene called BRAF occurs in approximately 50% of patients with advanced melanoma.

Melanoma

Individuals who have been diagnosed with melanoma are at increased risk for a second primary melanoma. That risk may be as high as 5% and is higher in older men and in those whose first melanoma was on the upper body and face.

People with family members who have or had melanoma have approximately twice the risk of developing melanoma as those without a family history, and should be examined on a regular basis.

Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers

The evidence for an increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancers with a family history of such cancers is increasing, but it is still weaker than the evidence for a familial connection to the risk of melanoma. The nonmelanoma skin cancers at this time are more related to sun exposure than genetics.

Moles (Nevi) and Other Dark Blemishes

Certain moles and dark blemishes increase the risk for skin cancer. Any mole (nevus) or other skin growth that seems new, changing, or unusual in any way should be evaluated by a health care professional. An existing mole can mutate and become cancerous. Although 80% of melanoma cases develop from brand new lesions or moles, your risk of developing the condition increases if you have the tendency to develop moles.

Some specific moles or dark blemishes that are risk factors for melanoma include:

The more moles a person has, the higher the risk that one of those moles will become cancerous, although the danger is still very small. The risk is higher with atypical moles.

Some skin growths can look like -- but are not -- melanoma. Noncancerous moles typically have the following characteristics:

Examples of moles or growths that may resemble skin cancer include:

Blue Nevus

A blue nevus is a benign mole that may easily be mistaken for melanoma. It is a blue-black, smooth, raised nodule that commonly occurs on the buttocks, hands, or feet. The dark blue color results from the refraction of the light from the pigment being deeper in the skin than most brown moles.

Liver Spots

Liver spots (lentigo) are usually evenly brown or tan spots caused by the sun. They are universal signs of aging resulting from prior sun exposure. Occurring most noticeably on the hands and face, these harmless blemishes tend to enlarge and darken over time. They look like freckles but do not go away in the absence of sunlight. Despite being called liver spots, they have nothing to do with one's liver.

Spindle Cell (Spitz) Nevus

Children may develop a benign lesion called a spindle cell (or Spitz) nevus. The mole is firm, raised, and pink or reddish-brown. It may be smooth or scaly and usually appears on the face, particularly on the cheeks. It is not harmful, but it may be difficult to tell apart from a melanoma, even for experts. These are usually removed due to their similarity to melanoma and atypical features.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Survivors of either non-Hodgkin lymphoma or melanoma face a higher risk for other cancers. These diseases may have common causes, such as exposure to UV radiation or shared genetic factors.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Genital warts (caused by human papillomavirus, or HPV) may also increase the risk of squamous cell cancer in the genital and anal areas and around fingernails.

Skin cancer risk is increased in people whose immune systems are suppressed because of certain medications, organ transplantation, or medical conditions such as AIDS. Melanoma has also developed in patients who received solid organ transplants from donors who had the disease.

Immune-suppressing drugs used to treat autoimmune disorders may also increase the risk for skin cancer. For example, patients who take TNF-alpha blockers to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases carry an increased risk for both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers. Any person on an immunosuppressive medication should have a skin check at least once per year.

Occupational exposure to radiation and some chemicals (vinyl chloride, polychlorinated biphenyls, and petrochemicals) in health care or industrial settings may increase the risk for melanoma. However, the evidence for this increased risk is not very strong. Airline pilots have been found to have an increased risk for melanoma. It is uncertain, however, whether this higher risk is from excessive exposure to ionizing radiation at high altitudes, or because they have more opportunity to spend time in sunny regions.

Prevention

The best way to lower your risk for skin cancer is to protect your skin from the sun and UV light. That means avoiding excess sun exposure, especially in midday when the sun is strongest.

Wear sunscreen. The use of sunscreens is complex, and everyone should understand how and when to use them. Follow instructions closely and reapply as directed after swimming or sweating. The bottom line is not that people should avoid sunscreens or sunblocks, but that they should always use them in combination with other sun-protective measures.

Many parents are now taking effective steps to protect their children, although experts worry that they are relying too much on sunscreen and less on other protective measures.

The following are some specific guidelines for avoiding excessive sun exposure:

Wear sunglasses and a hat to shield your face from the sun's rays. While regular clothing provides protection from the sun, specially-made sun protective clothing may provide even more protection. This clothing is rated using sun protection factor (SPF) or a system called the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) index, with 50 UPF being the highest. (According to one study, this is a very reliable indicator of protection.) The clothing is expensive, however.

Sun protection

When choosing a sunscreen, look at the ingredients. Preparations that help block UV radiation are sometimes classified as sunscreens or sunblocks, according to the substances they contain. In general, sunscreens contain organic formulas and sunblocks inorganic formulas. However, the term sunblock is used less and less as sunscreens increasingly contain both kinds of ingredients:

Inexpensive products with the same ingredients work as well as expensive ones. Zinc and titanium tend to cause fewer allergic reactions so those with very sensitive skin should use the inorganic formulas.

Under FDA guidelines, only broad-spectrum sunscreens (they block UVA and UVB) that pass the FDA's broad spectrum test may be labeled "broad spectrum" and may claim to reduce the risk for skin cancer. Other non-broad-spectrum sunscreen products can only claim to help reduce sunburn.

Use of the words "waterproof," "sweatproof," and "sunblock" is no longer permitted on labels. Sunscreens may not claim to provide protection for more than 2 hours without reapplication. Sunscreens that claim water resistance must state how long protection lasts while swimming or sweating. The new sunscreen labels will also stress the importance of protective clothing for complete sun protection. Cosmetics and moisturizers that include sunscreen protection must follow the same rules.

The safety and effectiveness of combination sunscreen and insect repellent products remain unclear. While sunscreen should be reapplied frequently, insect repellent applied too often could be toxic.

Organic formulas and inorganic microfine oxides do not protect against visible light, which is a problem for people who have light-sensitive skin conditions, including actinic prurigo, porphyria, and chronic actinic dermatitis.

Calculating SPF

SPF is a ratio based on the amount of UVB radiation needed to turn sunscreen- or sunblock-treated skin red compared to non-treated skin. For instance, people who sunburn in 5 minutes and who want to stay in the sun for 150 minutes might use an SPF 30 sunscreen. The formula would be: 30 (the SPF number) times 5 (minutes to burn) = 150 minutes in the sun. SPF is not measuring protection against UVA.

Protection offered by sunscreens may be classified as follows:

Under the new FDA guidelines, the maximum UVB protection factor has been raised from SPF 30 to 50. Since an SPF of 50 blocks approximately 98% of UVB rays, numbers higher than that are not really providing much more protection. No sunscreen can block 100% of harmful rays.

SPF Levels by Age Group

Although sunscreens are safe in most toddlers and children, they should not be the first and only lines of defense. All young children should be well-covered with clothing, sunglasses, and hats. Keep children out of the sun during peak sunlight periods. Do not use sunscreens on babies younger than 6 months without consulting a doctor.

Older children and adults (even those with darker skin) benefit from using SPFs of 15 and over. Some experts recommend that most people use SPF 30 or higher on the face and 15 or higher on the body. Adults who burn easily instead of tanning and anyone with risk factors for skin cancer should use SPF 30 or higher.

Timing and Amount of Application

Apply sunscreen or sunblock liberally as follows:

Possible Hazards of Relying on Sunscreens

When used generously and appropriately, sunscreen products and sun avoidance help reduce the severity of many aging skin disorders, including squamous cell carcinomas. There are certain concerns, however. Sunscreens do not appear to protect against melanoma and some basal cell carcinomas. It is also important to remember that even with the use of sunscreens, people should not stay out too long during peak sunlight hours. Even if a person doesn't sunburn, UVA rays can still penetrate the skin and do harm. In addition, some people use too little sunscreen, therefore unknowingly increasing their risk of aging skin disorders.

Chemoprevention is the use of a substance to prevent or reduce your risk for cancer. Certain drugs have been used to help block the development of skin cancers, including melanoma. These include a medicine called imiquimod, which is approved to prevent skin cancer in certain people with precancerous lesions called actinic keratosis. This medicine prompts the immune system to fight off foreign substances, including cancer cells.

Chemopreventive drugs under investigation that show promise for skin cancer include:

Antioxidants are chemicals or drugs that help prevent cell damage from unstable molecules called free radicals. Antioxidants promoted to protect the skin include vitamins C and E, and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

There are wide claims about the benefits of antioxidants in skin creams for wrinkles. To date, only skin products containing selenium and vitamins E and C have been shown to help reduce sun damage to the skin. However, most available brands contain very low concentrations of these antioxidants. In addition, antioxidants are not well absorbed by the skin and are quickly broken down, so the effect may be short-term. There is also no evidence that they prevent skin cancer.

Some early studies suggest that drinking coffee can reduce the risk for melanoma although it is unclear how coffee affects melanoma. More research is needed in this area.

Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) may be effective in reducing nonmelanoma skin cancers and actinic keratosis in patients felt to be at high risk for these lesions. Further study is needed.

Warning: A wide range of herbal products may contribute to skin problems. Some Chinese herbal creams have been found to contain corticosteroids. Mercury or arsenic contaminants have been found in some ayurvedic therapies. In addition, several oral herbal remedies used for medical or emotional conditions may produce photosensitivity (irritation in reaction to sunlight). They include, but are not limited to, St. John's wort, kava, and yohimbe. Herbal products are not tested as rigorously as prescription medicines and may have unintended and unknown side effects.

Screening

Education and prevention programs have led to improved screening for skin cancer, which in turn has improved diagnosis and survival rates for melanoma. There is no standard screening schedule for the average adult who is not considered high risk. Some dermatologists or hospitals offer free screenings. Primary care physicians may do a basic assessment. Patients may ask their doctor if they should be screened by a dermatologist. High risk individuals may need a whole body scan on a set schedule. A complete skin test is recommended for anyone with a suspicious lesion.

Skin cancers may have many different appearances. They can be small, shiny, or waxy, scaly and rough, firm and red, crusty or bleeding, non-healing or have other features. Itching, tenderness, scaling, bleeding, crusting, or sores can signal potentially cancerous changes in any mole.

There are a number of factors to look for that are common for melanoma, which can serve as a general guide. They fall under the skin cancer ABCDE rule:

Keep in mind that the most important warning sign of melanoma is a new or changing skin lesion, regardless of its size or color. Changes that occur over a short period of time (particularly over a few weeks) are most concerning.

Experts do not agree on whether or not skin self-exams should be performed for adults without risk factors. As a result, there is no standard recommendation for how often to perform them.

However, despite a lack of clear proven benefit, anyone with risk factors for skin cancer may want to check their entire body about once a month. Risk factors include a personal or strong family history of melanoma, those with multiple nevi or atypical nevi, organ transplant recipients, and people who are very sun sensitive with a history of multiple sunburns.

It helps to draw a map of the body, indicating locations of moles, areas of discoloration, lumps, or other blemishes. Whenever you do a self-examination, compare your body to the map to check for new lesions, lumps, or moles and for changes in shape, color, and size.

There are three specific body areas to look for skin cancers, including melanomas:

Ask a partner to help you check these areas. Turn on a hair dryer to separate your hair and examine the scalp.

Those with a high risk of developing melanoma may benefit from a whole body skin exam performed by a dermatologist. People in the high-risk group include those with a personal or family history of melanoma, and individuals with multiple atypical nevi (irregular moles that are larger than normal), and those with excessive sun exposure.

Such people should protect themselves from overexposure to sunlight and have a medical examination of the entire skin surface every 3 to 12 months (the frequency depends on your risk factors). The doctor may take photographs of specific moles, or your entire body, at each visit and compare them with previous photos to look for any changes.

Examinations for Patients Previously Treated for Melanoma

People who have had melanoma and have been treated successfully are at risk for the cancer returning (recurrence) or for developing another primary melanoma. Based on recurrence rates by cancer stage, doctors suggest the following guidelines for being re-examined by a doctor after treatment:

All patients should be checked annually after year 5. These are guidelines only and may depend on the individual patient.

Diagnosis

An experienced doctor should first rule out noncancerous (benign) conditions that resemble melanoma, such as a mole called a melanocytic nevus.

In rare instances, a melanoma will be difficult to detect. For example, an uncommon form called a myxoid melanoma may be mistaken for a benign skin disorder known as a myxoid fibrohistiocytic lesion. Additional diagnostic procedures such as a biopsy (see below), computerized image processing, or advanced staining techniques may help to confirm or rule out the diagnosis of melanoma.

Melanoma also tends to be diagnosed at a later stage in people with darker skin.

A combination of imaging approaches should be considered for early melanoma detection and diagnosis, since each technique alone has limitations. Some doctors now use various scope-like devices (dermoscopy, dermatoscopy, or epiluminescence microscopy) that enhance the visualization of the suspected lesion. These tools are more likely to be helpful for those with atypical nevi or history of melanoma.

MelaFind is a proprietary tool used to visually detect melanoma and it was approved for use by the FDA. It uses pattern recognition of certain factors that would lead a dermatologist to more highly suspect a lesion and perform a biopsy.

A skin biopsy is the removal of skin tissue for examination under a microscope. The exact type of biopsy depends on how deep the lesion has penetrated the skin.

All of the above-mentioned biopsies can be done using local anesthesia in the office setting.

A lymph node biopsy may be needed for patients with recently diagnosed melanoma, to help determine whether the cancer has spread to one or more lymph nodes.

A procedure called sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is now recommended for cancers that are thicker than 1 millimeter. It is usually not necessary for cancers thinner than 0.75 millimeters, unless they have opened (ulcerated). Although some evidence suggests an SLN biopsy may improve survival, no clinical trials to date have proven that it improves the outlook in people with thin melanoma.

Sentinel node biopsy

Sentinel node biopsy is a technique that helps determine if a cancer has spread. When a cancer has been detected, often the next step is to find the lymph node closest to the tumor site and retrieve it for analysis. The concept of the "sentinel" node, or the first node to drain the area of the cancer, allows a more accurate staging of the cancer, and leaves unaffected nodes behind to continue the important job of draining fluids. The procedure involves the injection of a dye (sometimes mildly radioactive) to pinpoint the lymph node that is closest to the cancer site. Sentinel node biopsy is used to stage many kinds of cancer, including melanoma. This is reserved for deeper or more aggressive melanomas.

An SLN biopsy involves the following:

The results of the biopsy can help doctors decide whether or not to remove other lymph nodes:

Patients with nonmelanoma skin cancers generally require no further workup.

Those with deep melanoma may need the following:

Staging

Staging is the process used to determine the size of the tumor and where and how far it has spread (metastasized). Staging helps the health care team plan for appropriate treatment.

A number of factors may be used to identify melanoma that is likely to spread and may be hard to treat, including:

Health professionals have come up with various methods for staging cancer. This report uses the TNM staging system recommended by the American Joint Committee on Cancer.

The melanoma is considered ulcerated if skin layers over the tumor appear indistinct under the microscope.

In general, the thicker the lesion and the farther the cancer has spread, the higher the stage. Survival rates decrease with increasing stage.

Specific stages are as follows:

Stage I

Cure rates are excellent with surgical removal, since these cancers are least likely to have spread.

Stage II

Melanomas can be cured, but the success rate lags behind that of Stage I because a small number of undetected cancer cells may have spread to distant sites. In addition to surgery, other forms of therapy may be recommended.

Stage III

Survival rate is lower than earlier stages.

Stage IV

Stage IV tumors have spread under the skin or to distant organs, including distant parts of the skin. Survival rates are very low.

Treatment for Melanoma

Treatment for melanoma depends on various factors, including:

Treatment options include:

Surgery is the primary treatment for all stages of melanoma. Some or all of the melanoma is often removed during the initial biopsy. After the biopsy, a surgeon will cut away additional tissue from the surrounding area to remove any stray cancer cells and have clear margins. The margin of normal skin around the melanoma is determined by the size and staging of the tumor. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is also determined by these factors.

Surgical management of melanoma that develops in rare sites, such as the vagina, cervix, and ovaries, is becoming less aggressive. Studies have shown that wide local removal works as well as radical surgery in many of these cases. Melanoma of the urethra, bladder, and ureter often requires extensive surgery, however.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

A technique used to remove very thin layers of skin, one at a time. Each layer is examined immediately under a microscope. When the layers are shown to be cancer-free, the surgery is complete. This is usually reserved only for melanomas in areas where wide margins are not possible, such as near the eyes or ears.

The amount of tissue removed depends on the size, depth, and degree of invasion:

Doctors used to remove a large area, regardless of the cancer stage. This potentially disfiguring approach has been abandoned because studies have shown that removing wider margins does not improve survival. Nevertheless, sometimes skin grafts may need to be taken from other body sites to help cover the wound.

Lymph Node Removal

If there is evidence that melanoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes but has not spread beyond them, removing those lymph nodes may reduce the chance of recurrence and help patients live longer.

Surgery for Metastatic Melanoma

In some cases, surgical removal of distant tumors may be possible. This may extend survival, since often in melanoma the cancer spreads first only to a single site, such as the lung or brain.

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery freezes skin tissue and destroys it. This procedure is not used as a primary treatment for melanomas of the skin, but it might have some value in specific situations. For example, it may be effective for smaller melanomas in the eye, a location that is difficult to treat with traditional surgery. It may be useful to eliminate cancer cells that remain after standard surgery for lentigo maligna melanomas, an unusual form of melanoma that has a wide surface and is difficult to treat.

Surgery for Lentigo Maligna

Recurrence rates are very high with lentigo maligna after conservative surgery. Although this cancer grows very slowly, lentigo maligna can develop into melanoma. Most of these lesions appear on the face and neck, where extensive surgery can be disfiguring. Patients should carefully discuss with their doctor having surgery to remove all diseased tissue while causing as little cosmetic harm as possible. Mohs surgery is a useful tool when treating lentigo maligna.

Chemotherapy is often used to treat melanomas that return or spread. This type of therapy is not intended as a cure, but it can prolong life and improve its quality. Chemotherapy tends to work better than radiotherapy for advanced stage cancers and tumors.

Chemotherapy may also be given after surgical removal (excision) of melanoma when there is increased risk for recurrence based on size of the lesion, location, or presence of cancer cells in the local lymph nodes. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.

Drugs Used

The following are some of the chemotherapy drugs used to treat melanoma. They may be used alone or in combination under specific situations. Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles, with rest periods between treatment periods.

Researchers continue to investigate other chemotherapy drugs and combinations of drugs to see which ones work best.

Side Effects

Side effects occur with all chemotherapy drugs. They are more severe with higher doses and increase over the course of treatment.

Common side effects include the following:

Serious short- and long-term complications can also occur, and may vary depending on the specific drugs used. They include the following:

Treating Side Effects

Drugs known as serotonin antagonists, especially ondansetron (Zofran) can relieve nausea and vomiting in nearly all patients given moderate drugs, and in most patients who take more powerful drugs.

Benefits of Chemotherapy

About 20% of cancers shrink in response to one or more of these drugs, but the effects last only 3 to 6 months. If the tumors completely disappear, the cancer may stay in remission much longer, but in virtually all cases it returns.

Chemotherapeutic regional perfusion (also called isolated limb perfusion) is a technique used to give a person very high-dose chemotherapy. It is often used effectively for melanoma that returns or spreads and that occurs on the arm or leg. It does not appear to be useful for preventing cancer spread after a first occurrence of melanoma in one of these locations.

This technique involves the following:

Perfusion techniques have also been tested for the pelvis, head, neck, skin of the breast, and abdomen.

Immunotherapy uses drugs to boost the patient's own immune system to recognize and kill the cancerous cells. Immunotherapy after surgery may help prevent recurrence in certain people with melanoma. This is called adjuvant therapy. If there is improvement in overall survival with this therapy, it is small. These medicines are often given along with chemotherapy, other immunotherapies, or both.

Immunotherapy drugs being used include:

Vaccine Immunotherapy

Vaccine immunotherapy is the use of a specific vaccine to treat an existing cancer. In this case, the vaccine targets one or more proteins that are produced by melanoma cells.

Vaccine immunotherapy requires the body to build up its own defenses. It can take months before benefits occur, but when they do, tumor reduction is more lasting than with chemotherapy. Vaccines also seem to have fewer side effects than interleukin and interferon.

Many therapeutic melanoma vaccines are in the advanced stages of testing, but none is approved for use in the United States at this time. So far trials have shown:

Combined vaccine and biologic therapies are under study and show promising results.

Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies work in different ways. They can attach to cancer cells, allowing your immune system to better attack the cancer cells, block the cancer cells from growing, or deliver chemotherapy or radiation to the cancer cells.

The monoclonal antibody ipilimumab (Yervoy) is approved by the FDA for use in adult patients with high-risk melanoma. This antibody allows the immune cells to attack tumors more effectively by blocking a regulator gene of the immune system. Fatigue and diarrhea are common side effects. However, the drug carries the risk of potentially fatal side effects, which include intestinal inflammation (colitis) and inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).

The monoclonal antibody pembrolizumab (Keytruda), which targets PD1, has recently been approved by FDA for treatment of melanoma that spread to lymph nodes. Another antibody targeting PD1 called nivolumab (Opdivo) is also approved for treatment of melanoma that is advanced or cannot be removed by surgery. Nivolumab is sometimes used together with ipilimumab.

Several studies are under way to assess new monoclonal antibodies, such as KIT inhibitors, as well as to determine when, in what sequence, and which combination of these antibodies is most effective. It appears that combination treatment is the best way of using these medications.

BRAF and MEK inhibitors target proteins in the BRAF mutation, which is specific for melanoma cells so that normal cells are not targeted by these medications.

Vemurafenib (Zelboraf) is an inhibitor of the mutated BRAF protein, which is found in approximately 50% of metastatic melanoma cases. Vemurafenib is approved by the FDA for treating metastatic or inoperable melanoma in patients with the BRAF mutation, and has proven superior to chemotherapy. Dabrafenib (Tafinlar), seems equally effective, but it has fewer skin side effects. Encorafenib (Braftovi) is another BRAF inhibitor. These medications shrink down tumors or slow the growth of metastatic lesions. These help prolong life but do not cure the melanoma.

Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) is a monoclonal antibody targeting mutated BRAF. It was recently approved by the FDA in combination with cobimetinib and vemurafenib for patients with metastatic or inoperable melanomas with the BRAF mutation.

Trametinib (Mekinist) is an MEK inhibitor. It targets the MEK protein found in the BRAF mutation. It was approved in 2013 for patients with BRAF mutation melanoma that cannot be surgically removed or that becomes metastatic. Other MEK inhibitors are binimetinib (Mektovi) and cobimetinib (Cotellic). These are pills taken daily.

Several combinations of BRAF and MEK inhibitors have been approved for patients with melanoma with BRAF mutation that are metastatic or that cannot be removed by surgery:

Medications that Target C-Kit

Some melanomas have mutations in the C-Kit gene that cause them to grow. This mutation is more commonly found in melanomas on the hands, feet, or inside the mouth. Imatinib (Gleevec) and nilotinib (Tasigna) are medicines that target this gene defect.

In general, radiation is used to help relieve pain and discomfort caused by cancer that has spread or recurred. Radiation is not used as often for melanoma as it is for other forms of cancer, because melanoma cells tend to be more resistant to its effects. It may be useful in some cases.

The goal of palliative therapy is to improve the patient's quality of life and relieve symptoms. It is not a cure. Advanced melanoma that has spread to distant sites often cannot be cured, although surgery to remove tumors that have spread may provide some benefit by easing pain, increasing the general quality of life, and lengthening survival.

Patients should ask their doctors about clinical trials, studies that examine new immunotherapies (vaccines, cytokines), gene therapies, chemotherapy combinations, or other treatments.

Treatment for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Many options are available for treating nonmelanoma skin cancer, including:

A review of available evidence found that for Bowen disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ), there is limited data to recommend one treatment over another. More research is needed.

Most basal and squamous cell carcinomas are treated with surgery. Research has found that surgery has the best results, but because it can have functional or cosmetic effects, some patients opt for radiation.

The first step in nonmelanoma skin cancers is to determine the risk of aggressive types of these tumors.

Squamous cell cancers of the skin are considered to be high-risk if any of the following are present:

Basal cell carcinomas are generally less aggressive although a large basal cell carcinoma or a morpheaform basal cell carcinoma may pose a greater risk for spreading.

For any skin cancer and for some keratoses that need to be removed, surgery is the first treatment. One of the following surgeries is usually used:

Excisional Surgery

Cutting out the tumor and then assessing the tumor borders (margins).

Curettage and Electrodesiccation

This procedure involves scraping away the cancerous tissue, followed by electric cauterization to stop the bleeding and further destroy the cancer. This is used for smaller, low risk cancers as there is no assessment of the tumor borders.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Mohs surgery is a procedure used for more aggressive forms of nonmelanoma skin cancer or for cancer in which minimal normal skin needs to be taken. It is a skin sparing technique usually used on the face to minimize scarring and disfigurement. The technique removes very thin layers of skin, one at a time. Each layer is examined immediately under a microscope. When the layers are shown to be cancer-free, the surgery is complete and the surgical defect is usually repaired.

Good candidates for Mohs surgery include:

Mohs surgery saves more healthy tissue than other procedures and is highly effective. It results in a 99% cure rate for primary tumors and a 95% cure rate for cancers that return. It can be safely performed in the doctor's office. Complications are uncommon but can include bleeding and infection.

Lasers

Laser surgery may be useful for certain basal cell cancers and for keratoses that appear on the lips, although it is not clear whether lasers offer any advantages over other surgical treatments. Lasers do not appear to be very effective for thick or tough squamous cell cancers.

Cryosurgery destroys skin cancer cells or actinic keratoses by freezing and destroying the affected tissue with liquid nitrogen. Studies have shown that cryosurgery can be used to remove even wide areas of actinic keratoses, and that it may be more successful over the long term than treatment with 5-fluorouracil, the standard drug. Cryosurgery also appears to reduce the risk for squamous cell cancer in these patients.

Cryotherapy achieves good cosmetic results for many patients. However, it may cause blistering and ulceration, leading to pain and infection, as well as harmless, but undesirable, skin color changes.

The disadvantage of cryosurgery is that no tissue is taken to examine under a microscope to show that the cancer was completely removed. In this case, close follow up for recurrence is recommended.

In unusual cases where the skin cancer may be in an inoperable position (such as the eyelid or tip of the nose), or if cancer has come back multiple times, radiation therapy may be indicated. Radiation therapy is more often used in older people who are not good surgical candidates. Superficial radiation therapy is a good option.

Radiation is directed at the tumor. It may take 1 to 4 weeks, with treatments done several times a week. One technique being investigated for basal and squamous cell cancer uses radiation implants (brachytherapy) and custom-made molds to specifically target the radiation to the cancer site. Studies suggest that this treatment is very effective with few complications.

Topical phototherapy with the drug aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a nonsurgical method that is proving to be a good choice for treating actinic keratoses and nonmelanoma skin cancers. The technique involves shining blue light onto the cancer area after the patient has taken ALA. ALA accumulates in the skin cells. When the cells are exposed to intense light, the chemical causes them to die. This approach allows precise targeting of one or more lesions, leaving healthy skin unaffected.

Topical phototherapy with ALA does not penetrate deeper than the epidermis (the top layer of the skin), so it does not produce scarring or changes in skin color, as cryotherapy or other more invasive treatments do. However, it can cause pain and irritation, including stinging, itching, and burning.

ALA Phototherapy for Actinic Keratoses

Phototherapy works best on flat lesions when it is performed in two treatments, and is more effective for clearing lesions on the face than those on the scalp. Phototherapy can also treat multiple lesions at the same time instead of one after another, as in cryotherapy. Studies suggest that it may work as well as cryotherapy and achieve better cosmetic results (more patients report burning and itching with phototherapy, however). Phototherapy is also equal to topical 5-fluorouracil in effectiveness and achieving a satisfactory appearance.

ALA Phototherapy for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

In patients with squamous cell cancer in situ, Bowen disease, and superficial basal cell cancer, phototherapy has been equal to cryotherapy, with better healing and appearance afterward.

Some studies have shown that about 10% of patients using phototherapy have a recurrence within 1 year. These recurrence rates are higher than with surgery and other standard treatments. Longer-term studies are required before ALA phototherapy can be recommended for most patients with nonmelanoma skin cancers.

Several medications are being used for actinic keratoses, and some may be helpful for skin cancers as well. Besides cryotherapy, 5-fluorouracil is the other most commonly used treatment for actinic keratoses. Other medications are also available.

Topical retinoids, commonly prescribed for acne, have been shown effective in reducing actinic keratosis and nonmelanoma skin cancers, but are not yet approved by the FDA for treating these conditions.

Other topical agents under investigation include resiquimod, piroxicam, dobesilate, and betulinic acid.

Cemiplimab (Libtayo), a monoclonal antibody targeting PD-1 (see above section on PD-1 monoclonal antibody treatments for melanoma) has been approved for treatment of squamous cell cancer that is advanced or has spread and cannot be treated by surgery or radiotherapy. Avelumab (Bavencio) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) are monoclonal antibodies approved for Merkel cell carcinoma that has metastasized.

MedicationSkin Conditions AffectedOral or TopicalComments

5-Fluorouracil

Actinic keratoses, Bowen disease, and small nonmelanoma skin cancers.

Topical cream (Efudex, Fluoroplex) or injected gel containing 5-FU and epinephrine.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) removes actinic keratoses and is useful for some patients with a large number of lesions. It requires twice daily application for 2 to 4 weeks. It can cause significant redness, irritation, swelling, and crusting, which takes 2 to 4 weeks to heal. Newer preparations are reducing these side effects. It is still unclear whether this medication protects against recurrent keratoses or future skin cancer. Of concern is the possibility that 5-FU will clear the top of a skin cancer and obscure the rest of the cancer that lies beneath the surface of the skin.

Diclofenac and hyaluronan (Solaraze)

Actinic keratoses (approved). Investigated for basal cell.

Topical gel applied twice a day.

Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). When used to treat actinic keratoses, it is delivered to the skin with hyaluronan, a water-seeking molecule that helps maintain skin tension. It has only modest effects and when healing occurs, it may not be evident for at least a month after treatment ends. However, it causes less irritation than 5-FU and may be useful for some people. Sun avoidance is necessary during treatment.

Imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara)

FDA-approved for the treatment of superficial basal cell cancer and actinic keratoses. Investigated for Bowen disease and squamous cell cancer.

Imiquimod is a topical cream. Frequency and duration of application continue to be studied.

Applied 2 times per week for 16 weeks for AK. It can also be applied daily for 2 weeks, then 2 weeks off, then again applied daily for 2 weeks.

Imiquimod triggers the production of immune factors that help fight cell proliferation. It should be used only when surgery for basal cell cancer is inappropriate.

It is very useful for actinic keratosis.

Alpha-Interferons

Basal cell cancer.

Require injections administered three times a week.

Interferons are immune factors that are being used to treat a number of serious conditions. Alpha-interferon injections may be effective against skin cancers that are hard to treat using conventional surgical measures. Cosmetic results are reported by 83% of patients to be good or very good.

Ingenol mebutate Actinic keratoses on the face, scalp, trunk, and extremities.Topical gelFDA-approved in 2012, the drug kills abnormal skin cells. Refrigerated gel is applied to the skin once daily for 2 to 3 days. The medication remains effective for about 2 weeks after application on the skin.

Vismodegib (Erivedge)

Advanced BCCCapsule taken orally dailyFDA approved for advanced BCC or metastatic BCC.

Prognosis

Virtually all basal and squamous type skin cancers can be cured if treated early. These cancers are more likely to recur if they develop on the head and neck area, or if they are thicker. Most of the time, the recurrence will be local (at the same location as the original tumor).

The outlook for melanoma depends on when it is diagnosed and where it forms on the body.

Certain factors indicate melanoma is more likely to have spread or to return after treatment:

In general, after patients are treated for melanoma, the longer they go without the cancer returning after treatment, the better their chance of remaining disease-free. However, people whose first melanoma was large can have metastasis years after the cancer was removed.

Anyone who has recovered from melanoma should carefully follow preventive guidelines and remain vigilant for suspicious lesions, because the risk for developing a new melanoma is increased even if the first one was successfully cured. Such relapses may occur even years after the original diagnosis.

Resources

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Review Date: 7/29/2021
Reviewed By: Ramin Fathi, MD, FAAD, Director, Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, Phoenix, AZ. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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