The WAM Foundation - War Against Melanoma

Melanoma can occur on any skin surface; in men, melanoma is often found on the trunk (the area between
the shoulders and the hips) or the head and neck. In women, it often develops on the lower legs.

Melanoma occurs when melanocytes (pigment cells) become malignant. Most pigment cells are in the skin;
when melanoma starts in the skin, the disease is called cutaneous melanoma. Melanoma may also occur in
the eye (ocular melanoma or intraocular melanoma). Rarely, melanoma may arise in the meninges, the
digestive tract, lymph nodes, or other areas where melanocytes are found.

When melanoma spreads, cancer cells may show up in nearby lymph nodes. Groups of lymph nodes are
found throughout the body. Lymph nodes trap bacteria, cancer cells, or other harmful substances that may
be in the lymphatic system. If the cancer has reached the lymph nodes, it may mean that cancer cells have
spread to other parts of the body such as the liver, lungs, or brain. In such cases, the cancer cells in the
new tumor are still melanoma cells, and the disease is called metastatic melanoma, not liver, lung, or brain
cancer.

(See Risks Factors)

Information provided by the National Cancer Institute, The Skin Cancer Foundation, and the Melanoma
Research Foundation. For more detailed information go to:

National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma
The Skin Cancer Foundation - http://www.skincancer.org
Melanoma Research Foundation - http://www.melanoma.org

Disclaimer:
The material contained on this site is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended and should not construed to be a substitute for
professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should not rely on any information contained on this site as a substitute for medical advice and
always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition.

Melanoma is one of the fastest growing cancers in the United States and worldwide; and
in the United States, the percentage of people who develop melanoma has more than
doubled in the past 30 years.