Skip to content
WebMD: Better Information. Better Health.
Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Videos

Melanoma/Skin Cancer Health Center

Cancer Risk Health Check
Assess yourself.
Could You Be Depressed?
Check your symptoms.
Slideshow
See what skin cancer looks like.

Melanoma/Skin Cancer Slideshow

Skin cancers include melanoma, basal cell, and squamous cell. Basal and squamous cell are common and treatment is very effective; malignant melanoma, especially in later stages of melanoma, is serious and treatment is difficult. Sun exposure is the biggest cause of melanoma and other skin cancers, but early diagnosis and treatment can increase the survival rate from melanoma. Learn about the signs of all skin cancers, and familiarize yourself with pictures of skin cancer so you can spot it early.

Select a Chapter

Latest Headlines
Radiation Cuts Odds Melanoma Will Recur
Radiation treatment cuts the risk that melanoma will come back in people at high risk for recurrence, a new study suggests.

Community & Resources

Symptoms

Early signs

The most important warning sign for melanoma is any change in size, shape, or color of a mole or other skin growth, such as a birthmark. Watch for changes that occur over a period of weeks to a month. Use the ABCDE rule to evaluate skin changes, and call your health professional if you have any of the following changes.

webMD Video

Show or hide information about video: Is That Mole Skin Cancer?   Is That Mole Skin Cancer?

Dermatologists have a simple "A, B, C, D" method to help you determine if a mole on your skin should be examined by a doctor.

Watch Video: Is That Mole Skin Cancer? (opens in a new window)

Show or hide information about video: Melanoma Diagnostic Test   Melanoma Diagnostic Test

Show or hide information about video: Isolated Limb Infusion for Melanoma   Isolated Limb Infusion for Melanoma

Show or hide information about video: Diagnosing Skin Cancer Without Cutting   Diagnosing Skin Cancer Without Cutting

Show or hide information about video: Incidence of Melanoma Rising in White Women   Incidence of Melanoma Rising in White Women