Cancer guide
Melanoma
By Cura Editorial Team ·
The most serious skin cancer — but early-stage melanoma has excellent outcomes, and BRAF and immunotherapy have transformed advanced disease.
What to know first
- Use the ABCDE rule: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving.
- BRAF mutation status determines eligibility for targeted therapy.
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy is standard for tumors thicker than 0.8 mm.
When to see a doctor
- A new mole, or a mole that's changing in size, shape, or color
- A spot that itches, bleeds, or won't heal
- A dark streak under a fingernail or toenail with no injury
Frequently asked questions
What are the early warning signs of melanoma cancer?
The signs that most often lead to a melanoma cancer diagnosis are: a new mole, or a mole that's changing in size, shape, or color; a spot that itches, bleeds, or won't heal; a dark streak under a fingernail or toenail with no injury. Any of these lasting more than a couple of weeks is worth a same-week appointment, even though most turn out to be something else.
When should I see a doctor about possible melanoma cancer?
See a doctor promptly if a symptom is new, persistent, or getting worse rather than better. Describe when it started, how often it happens, and what makes it better or worse — that detail is what decides whether you get imaging or testing at the first visit.
What should I know first about melanoma cancer?
The most serious skin cancer — but early-stage melanoma has excellent outcomes, and BRAF and immunotherapy have transformed advanced disease. Use the ABCDE rule: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving. BRAF mutation status determines eligibility for targeted therapy. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is standard for tumors thicker than 0.8 mm.
What questions should I ask after a melanoma cancer diagnosis?
Ask what the exact diagnosis is and how it is staged, what the treatment options are and in what order they would happen, what the goal of treatment is, which side effects to expect, and whether a second opinion or clinical trial makes sense for your situation.
Related guides
Have a melanoma cancer question?
Paste a pathology report, upload a scan summary, or just type the question you'd ask your oncologist if you had more than 15 minutes. Cura will answer in plain language.
Ask CuraWant occasional plain-language health explainers?
A short note now and then. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Before the first treatment decision
If a start date is on the calendar, or you feel lost between diagnosis and the first infusion, build a first-visit brief on the page: what's known, what's missing, what to ask. Homework, not a treatment plan.
Cura Brief is educational. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment plan. Confirm everything with your oncology team. If this is an emergency, call emergency services. Email is not an emergency line.
Prefer email? hello@curawellplan.com