The fifth most common type of cancer is melanoma. It is less unusual than some other types of cancer, but likely to grow and spread faster. It is often detected early, as symptoms are clearly visible on the skin. If you notice any suspicious spots or moles on your skin, you should consult your doctor. However, do note that most moles are harmless. Read on to know the signs and symptoms of melanoma cancer in depth.

• One of the foremost symptoms of melanoma is the development of a new mole or change in the appearance, structure, or size of a previous mole.
• Harmless moles are usually evenly colored (brown, black, or tan) and less than 6 millimeters in diameter. They generally do not change over time and remain flat or raised.
• It is vital to understand what your natural skin looks like to help you determine a cancerous mole. A simple ABCDE checklist mentioned below can be useful.
  • A stands for asymmetrical and refers to the shape of the mole. Melanoma moles are irregular in shape. One half of the spot or mole does not match with the other half.
  • B stands for border. Melanoma patch edges are uneven. They can also be blurred, ragged, or notched when you feel it with your fingertips.
  • C stands for color. Check if the mole is of an uneven color or comprises more than one shade. Melanoma moles come in different shades of black, brown, and pink.
  • D stands for diameter. Melanoma moles are of a larger size than a pea. They are a quarter of an inch big, which is the size of a pencil eraser. However, sometimes melanoma can be smaller than this too.
  • E stands for evolving. Is the mole changing or evolving over time? If the answer to this is yes, it is more likely to be melanoma.It’s best to visit a doctor to confirm your doubts.
• Melanoma can also occur on a nail, sole of the foot, inside the mouth, or in the genital areas. But such types of melanoma are quite rare.
• Another form of rare melanoma happens in the eye. Its symptom includes a dark and growing spot in the iris. Sometimes it also grows inside the eyes with no outward symptoms.
• Another warning sign and symptom of melanoma is a sore that does not heal for a prolonged period.
• Melanoma patients may also sometimes experience redness, itchiness, swelling, tenderness, or pain near the mole. It may also spread into the surrounding skin area.
• Change in the texture of skin like scaliness, oozing, or bleeding from a previous mole may also occur due to melanoma.