Malignant melanoma may spread to other areas of the body, while non-melanoma may be unlikely to spread to other areas of the body. A tumor may only be cancerous if it is malignant. A tumor may be malignant if it invades other tissues due to its uncontrolled growth.

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) rays may cause skin cancer. It may be caused by an overexposure to the sun. Tanning beds and sunlamps may also cause skin cancer in some individuals. Non-melanoma types of skin cancer may be more common than melanoma skin cancer. When found early, treatment may be very effective, so getting checked regularly may be important.

Symptoms of skin cancer may include the appearance of small blood vessels in the tumor and a depression with crusting or bleeding. The tumor may appear as a raised, smooth bump on the sun-exposed skin.

The tumor may also appear as a well-defined, reddish, scaling, thick patch of skin on the skin. A change in size, shape or the elevation of a mole may be a warning sign of skin cancer. A biopsy may be done if the patient has a troubling mole. A skincare professional or other doctor may diagnose the disease using medical testing to confirm the presence of skin cancer.

Treating skin cancer may be done by surgically removing the tumor or lesion. Malignant melanoma may require several treatments in combination.

Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and other treatments may be used during treatment. Individuals suffering from malignant melanoma may require the expertise of a dermatologist, cancer surgeon and oncologist. A health care professional may provide further information regarding the symptoms and treatments of non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancer.

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