What Is Melanoma?

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, developing in the cells (melanocytes) that produce melanin — the pigment that gives skin its color. While melanoma accounts for only about 1% of all skin cancers, it causes the majority of skin cancer deaths due to its ability to spread rapidly to other parts of the body if not caught early.

Melanoma most commonly appears on the skin, but it can also develop in the eyes, mouth, and rarely in the intestines or other internal organs. When detected early, melanoma is highly treatable. Advanced melanoma that has spread to lymph nodes or distant organs requires more aggressive intervention, which is where the surgical specialists at Western Surgical Group play a critical role.

Symptoms & Warning Signs

Early detection is key to successful melanoma treatment. The ABCDE rule is a helpful guide for identifying suspicious moles or skin lesions:

  • Asymmetry — One half of the mole doesn’t match the other
  • Border — Irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred edges
  • Color — Uneven color, including shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue
  • Diameter — Larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser), though melanomas can be smaller
  • Evolving — Any change in size, shape, color, or new symptoms like bleeding or itching

Other warning signs include a new growth that looks unusual, a sore that doesn’t heal, or spread of pigment from the border of a spot into surrounding skin.

Risk Factors

Anyone can develop melanoma, but certain factors increase your risk:

  • Fair skin, light hair, and light eye color
  • History of sunburns, especially blistering sunburns in childhood
  • Excessive UV exposure from the sun or tanning beds
  • A large number of moles or a history of abnormal (dysplastic) moles
  • Personal or family history of melanoma
  • Weakened immune system
  • Exposure to radiation or certain chemicals

Diagnosis & Staging

Diagnosis typically begins with a skin examination and biopsy of the suspicious lesion. If melanoma is confirmed, further testing — including imaging studies and sentinel lymph node biopsy — may be performed to determine the stage of the cancer. Staging guides treatment decisions and helps predict outcomes.

Treatment Options

Surgical removal is the primary treatment for melanoma. The surgical approach depends on the stage and location of the tumor:

  • Wide Local Excision — The melanoma and a margin of surrounding healthy tissue are surgically removed. The size of the margin depends on the thickness of the tumor.
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy — A procedure to identify and examine the first lymph node(s) to which cancer is likely to spread. If cancer is found in the sentinel node, further lymph node surgery may be recommended.
  • Lymph Node Dissection — If melanoma has spread to the lymph nodes, surgical removal of the affected nodes (lymphadenectomy) may be performed.
  • Surgery for Metastatic Melanoma — In select cases, surgery may be used to remove tumors that have spread to distant organs in order to reduce symptoms or improve outcomes in combination with other therapies.

Surgical treatment at Western Surgical Group is coordinated with your oncology team to ensure comprehensive, individualized care. Our surgeons have extensive experience managing complex melanoma cases in Northern Nevada.

Divisions Involved in Your Care

Procedures We Use

Frequently Asked Questions

Melanoma is more dangerous than other common skin cancers — such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma — because it is much more likely to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. This aggressive behavior makes early detection and prompt treatment especially important.

UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds is the most common risk factor, but not all melanomas are caused by sun exposure. Melanoma can develop in areas rarely exposed to the sun, including under the nails, on the soles of the feet, or in the eyes. Genetic factors also play a role.

During a sentinel lymph node biopsy, a small amount of dye or radioactive tracer is injected near the melanoma. The dye travels to the first lymph node(s) in the drainage area of the tumor — the sentinel node(s). These nodes are then removed and examined under a microscope to determine if melanoma cells are present. This helps determine staging without removing all nearby lymph nodes.

Yes, melanoma can recur — either at the original site, in nearby lymph nodes, or in distant organs. The risk of recurrence depends on the stage of the original melanoma and other individual factors. Regular follow-up appointments with your surgical and oncology team are essential for ongoing monitoring.

You should seek a surgical consultation after a confirmed melanoma diagnosis. Surgery is typically the first step in treatment, and early intervention significantly improves outcomes. If you've been diagnosed with melanoma or have a suspicious lesion, the surgeons at Western Surgical Group can evaluate your case and guide you through your treatment options.

Yes. Melanoma treatment often requires a multidisciplinary approach involving surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and dermatology. Western Surgical Group works closely with your existing care team to ensure a coordinated treatment plan tailored to your specific diagnosis and stage.