What is it?
A melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. It is the result of cancerous cells growing in melanocytes (cells that produce melanin). These are the cells responsible for giving the skin its color. A melanoma often looks a bit like a mole.
What are the symptoms?
The most common sign of melanoma is the appearance of a new, unusual growth or mole or a change in an existing mole. In most cases, melanomas have an irregular shape and are more than one colour. The mole may also be larger than normal and can sometimes be itchy or bleed. Look out for a mole which changes progressively in shape, size and / or colour.