Can you get melanoma on your leg?
Melanomas can develop anywhere on your body. They most often develop in areas that have had exposure to the sun, such as your back, legs, arms and face.
What does a raised melanoma look like?
Most nodular melanomas will appear as a blackish-blue or reddish-blue bump. However, some nodules have no color or are flesh-toned. Flesh-toned nodules are called amelanotic nodules. These melanoma spots appear as the same color as the surrounding skin because the nodule lacks pigment.
Is melanoma flat or bumpy?
The most common type of melanoma usually appears as a flat or barely raised lesion with irregular edges and different colours. Fifty per cent of these melanomas occur in preexisting moles.
What color is a melanoma?
Melanoma often contains shades of brown, black, or tan, but some can be red or pink, such as the one shown here.
What are my chances of surviving melanoma?
The American Cancer Society reports the five-year survival rate for stage 3 melanoma ranges from 40 to 78 percent. The 10-year survival rate ranges from 24 to 68 percent. Stage 4 melanoma means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, brain, or other organs and tissue.
What does melanoma cancer look like?
Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer. It isn’t as common as other types of skin cancer, but it is the most serious. Melanoma usually looks like a flat mole with uneven edges and a shape that is not the same on both sides. It may be black, brown, or more than one color. Most melanomas show up as a new spot or skin growth.
How do melanocytes defend your skin against UV rays?
Melanocytes have the crucial job of producing melanin, the pigment that absorbs ultraviolet light from the sun. Ultraviolet wavelengths can damage or destroy the DNA in cells, causing mutations that can turn into cancers. Once the skin is exposed to sunlight, the melanocytes try to cover all the cells with melanin, like sun hats that block UV rays.
What causes skin cancer on the legs?
This can be a result of ultraviolet radiation (UV) from over-exposure to the sun, the excessive use of tanning salons, and other factors. As such, skin cancer prompts the growth of genetic defects or mutations that can cause skin cells to rapidly produce, and form malignant tumors.