Discovering melanoma at an earlier stage is more likely to result in a cure. TWhen melanoma is found and treated early, the chances for long-term survival are excellent. As melanoma progresses, it becomes harder to treat and has poorer outcomes.
The earliest sign of melanoma is usually a change in the shape, size or colour of an existing mole, or the appearance of a new mole. Most melanomas are visible on the skin, there is a good chance of detecting the disease in its early stage.
How to diagnose melanoma at earliest stage?
Get familiar with the pattern of moles, blemishes, freckles and other marks on your skin. Melanoma can appear suddenly. The first sign of melanoma is often a change in the size, shape or colour of an existing mole or the appearance of a new mole. Melanoma can develop anywhere on the skin, but it is important to be aware that it may occur in different places in men and women: In men, melanoma develops most often between the shoulders and hips. In women, melanomas are often found on the lower legs as well as between the shoulders and hips.
To check yourself, first you must know what the moles, blemishes, freckles or other marks on your skin look like. In this way, you can be aware of any changes in the future. We recommend a complete self-examination of the skin once every few month. It is also useful to see a doctor for a complete skin examination when one begins self-examinations so that a baseline of ‘normal’ can be established and from that point on changes can be watched for.
