Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It starts in melanocytes. These are the cells that make the color (pigment) in your skin. Melanoma often looks like a new mole or a mole that changes. It can show up anywhere on the body. This includes places that do not get sun, like the soles of the feet or under a nail.

When should I call my care team?

Fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, or chills; Diarrhea, more stools than usual, belly pain, or blood in your stool, especially on immunotherapy; New cough or shortness of breath; Chest pain, a racing heartbeat, or new muscle weakness; Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, or pain on the right side of your belly; Severe headache, confusion, seizure, vision changes, or weakness on one side of the body; Feeling very weak, dizzy, or faint, or very strong thirst; Severe rash, blisters, peeling skin, or sores in the mouth; Sudden blurry vision or loss of vision while on targeted pills; Redness, warmth, or pus at a surgery site, or a swollen arm or leg that is red and painful; Not able to eat or drink, or keep fluids down, for a day.

Melanoma

Most melanomas are found early and treated with surgery alone, and newer treatments help many people with advanced melanoma.

Hi, I'm Rosa. Today we'll go through melanoma together, one step at a time. I'll keep it simple, and you can pause me, go back, or skip ahead whenever you like. Just so you know, this is for learning only. It is not medical advice, so please check everything with your own doctor and care team. Okay, let's get started.

What melanoma is

Let's start with the basics. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It starts in the cells that give your skin its color. It often looks like a new mole. Or it can be a mole that changes. It can show up anywhere on the body. That includes places with no sun, like the soles of the feet. Too much sun or tanning beds is the biggest cause. Most melanomas are found early. Then surgery alone can often remove them. For more advanced melanoma, newer medicines now help many people.

The main types

Let's talk briefly about the types. The most common type grows along the top layer of skin first. Another type grows down into the skin quickly. It often looks like a raised bump. One type grows on skin with years of sun, like the face. Another is found on the palms, soles, or under the nails. It is not linked to sun. A few rare types start in moist linings, like the mouth or nose. Melanoma inside the eye is a very different disease. Your care team will tell you which type you have.

Tests you may have

Now let's talk about tests. A full skin check looks at your skin from head to toe. A biopsy removes the spot to look at it under a microscope. The report tells how thick the melanoma is. A small surgery may check the first lymph nodes near the melanoma. These are small glands that help fight infection. An ultrasound can watch lymph nodes over time. CT or PET scans check if melanoma has spread. A brain MRI scan may be done for higher stages. Gene tests on the tumor can help guide treatment.

What the stage means

Next up, let's talk about stages. The stage tells how deep the melanoma is. It also shows if it has spread. For early melanoma, thickness matters most. Doctors also check if the skin on top is broken. Stages go from zero to four. Stage zero is only in the top layer of skin. Higher stages mean it has reached lymph nodes or other places. Why do stages matter? They are the most important guide for treatment. They also help everyone speak the same language.

Tumor markers and gene tests

Before we move to treatment, there are some things to know. Some melanomas have gene changes that help them grow. Testing for these helps your team choose treatment. This matters most for later stages. There are different markers. Each one has a different role. Some point to pills that may work well. Immune treatment can work with or without a gene change. A few melanomas run in families. Your doctor will tell you which markers you have and what they mean. You can read more in the guide. The Questions to ask page can help too.

Main treatments

Now let's talk about treatment. Surgery removes the melanoma and a rim of normal skin. This is the main treatment for early stages. Immune treatment helps your own body fight the melanoma. It may be given before or after surgery. Targeted pills work for melanoma with a certain gene change. A special cell therapy grows your own immune cells in a lab. Some medicines are injected right into melanoma spots. Radiation can ease pain or control spots. There are also clinical trials. These are research studies that may offer new options. Ask your team if one fits you.

Side effects and what helps

Let's talk about side effects. Immune treatment can make your body attack healthy organs. This can affect the bowels, skin, or hormone glands. Tell your team about any new symptom early. Most can be treated. Diarrhea or belly pain on immune treatment needs a call the same day. Some pills can cause fever and chills. Rash and itching can happen. Gentle soap and moisturizer help. Feeling very tired is common. Short walks can help. We have a whole side effects guide on this site.

Living well

Last, let's talk about living well. You will have regular skin and lymph node checks. Check your own skin once a month. Look for new spots or moles that change. Protect your skin from the sun. Wear a hat and use sunscreen. Never use tanning beds. Feeling worried about scans is common. Support groups can help. Now, some signs mean call your team right away. A fever or chills. Diarrhea or belly pain, especially on immune treatment. A new cough or shortness of breath. If it feels very bad, call 911. Check out our new Screening, prevention and survivorship section.

You did great today. That was a lot to learn, and you went step by step. Write down your questions and bring them to your next visit. Call your care team any time something worries you. You are not alone in this.

Call your care team right away if you have

Fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, or chills
Diarrhea, more stools than usual, belly pain, or blood in your stool, especially on immunotherapy
New cough or shortness of breath
Chest pain, a racing heartbeat, or new muscle weakness
Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, or pain on the right side of your belly
Severe headache, confusion, seizure, vision changes, or weakness on one side of the body
Feeling very weak, dizzy, or faint, or very strong thirst
Severe rash, blisters, peeling skin, or sores in the mouth
Sudden blurry vision or loss of vision while on targeted pills
Redness, warmth, or pus at a surgery site, or a swollen arm or leg that is red and painful
Not able to eat or drink, or keep fluids down, for a day

Side effects: what helps

Sources

Quick answers

What is melanoma?: Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It starts in melanocytes. These are the cells that make the color (pigment) in your skin. Melanoma often looks like a new mole or a mole that changes. It can show up anywhere on the body. This includes places that do not get sun, like the soles of the feet or under a nail.
When should I call my care team?: Fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, or chills; Diarrhea, more stools than usual, belly pain, or blood in your stool, especially on immunotherapy; New cough or shortness of breath; Chest pain, a racing heartbeat, or new muscle weakness; Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, or pain on the right side of your belly; Severe headache, confusion, seizure, vision changes, or weakness on one side of the body; Feeling very weak, dizzy, or faint, or very strong thirst; Severe rash, blisters, peeling skin, or sores in the mouth; Sudden blurry vision or loss of vision while on targeted pills; Redness, warmth, or pus at a surgery site, or a swollen arm or leg that is red and painful; Not able to eat or drink, or keep fluids down, for a day.

Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.