III. Treatment:
Melanoma cancer
in its early stages looks like a mole. Moles are harmless skin growths that may
be flat or protruding. They vary in color from pink flesh tones to dark brown or black. Everyone has moles; some
of us have more than others. The number of moles one has depends on our genes
and the amount of sun exposure during childhood. Moles sometimes appear in
"crops," especially during the early teens. Rarely, a mole will become
cancerous. If this occurs, the cancer is called a melanoma
cancer. To help distinguish
moles from melanomas, dermatologists have developed criteria known as the ABCD's:
A stands for asymmetry, B stands for border, C stands for color, and D stands
for diameter. 
If
you have a mole that is asymmetrical (when you look at the mole, the two halves
do not look the same), the border is irregular and not perfectly round, the color is many different shades, and the
diameter is larger than 1/4 of an inch, then you should see your doctor. Also,
if you notice a mole is marching out of step with your other moles (changing
more than your other moles), it needs to be checked by your doctor. In men,
melanoma cancer most commonly occurs on the upper back, and in women it is more common
on the legs.
