All about melanoma

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops from pigment producing cells in the skin, called melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for the colour of our skin, eyes and hair. When these cells divide abnormally it results in melanoma.

Melanoma can be more serious than other types of skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma; it can progress quickly and can be life-threatening.

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Early detection

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Diagnosis

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Treatment

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Prevention

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Lauren was happy working with horses as a stud hand when her world was turned on its head. She had a mole on her leg which she had noticed getting bigger last year. “I wasn’t really aware of melanoma, or that it can be life threatening,” says Lauren. “I was more embarrassed by the mole than worried about it; it looked ugly and was itchy and bleeding, and I was pretty self-conscious about it.

– Lauren

It is fair to say my relationship with the sun has changed dramatically since that day – sunscreen, shade, sunglasses and good old common sense in the sun has replaced sunbathing and sunbeds.

– Adine Wilson said after finding out she had been diagnosed with melanoma.