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Skin Cancer - Melanoma | MemorialCare Medical Centers in California
MemorialCare Medical Centers Cancer Care

Skin Cancer – Melanoma

Skin cancer or melanoma forms in the melanocytes, cells found in the skin that produce melanin that tans the skin. Overexposure to the sun can cause melanocytes to cluster forming pink, tan, or brown moles. If moles begin to change shape, color or size they may be cancerous. According to the American Cancer Association, skin cancer is the most common of all the cancers with more than 60,000 cases each year in the United States.

Symptoms

Remembering “ABCD” can help you tell a normal mole from an abnormal mole: * Source: American Cancer Society

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, consult a MemorialCare Physician partner.

Causes & Prevention

The causes of skin cancer are unknown. By protecting your skin from the sun and having regular skin cancer screenings you can reduce your risk for skin cancer.

Ways to protect yourself against skin cancer:

Skin cancer screening recommendations:

Risk Factors

You are at a greater risk for skin cancer if you:

Diagnosis

During a physical exam a biopsy may be taken so that tissues from the skin can be viewed by a pathologist under a microscope to detect skin cancer.

Staging

If cancer is diagnosed and before treatment begins, additional tests are performed to determine the stage of the cancer and to see if it has spread to other parts of the body.

Treatments

MemorialCare’s experienced team of oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and surgeons conduct roundtable discussions (tumor boards) of newly diagnosed patients to make recommendations for the best course of treatment.

MemorialCare Health System is a not-for-profit integrated-delivery system which includes Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center and Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills and San Clemente. Our community-based hospitals are located in Southern California in both Los Angeles County and Orange County. Copyright © 1999 - 2009, Memorial Health Services. All rights reserved.