Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). While melanoma accounts for a small portion of skin cancers, it is actually one of the most common cancers among young adults, especially women.
In 2025, the ACS estimates that:
- Around 104,960 new melanomas will be diagnosed (around 60,550 in men and around 44,410 in women)
- About 8,430 people are expected to die of melanoma (about 5,470 men and 2,960 women).
Anyone of any race or ethnicity can get melanoma. About 1 in 33 white people, 1 in 200 Hispanic people and 1 in 1,000 Black people get melanoma in their lifetime.
Melanoma can appear on normal skin or begin as a mole or other area that changes in appearance. It is caused by changes in cells called melanocytes, which produce melanin, the skin pigment responsible for hair and skin color.
Providers with the UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center Skin Cancer and Melanoma team recommend regular skin self-exams after a shower or bath. It’s best to begin by learning where your birthmarks, moles and blemishes are, and what they usually look and feel like.
Using a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror, check for anything new:
- A mole that looks abnormal
- A change in the size, shape, color or texture of a mole
- A sore that doesn’t heal
Check yourself from head to toe, including all areas and crevices of the skin.
Remembering your “ABCDEs” can help you remember what to watch for:
- Asymmetry – The shape of one half does not match the other.
- Border – The edges are often jagged, uneven, distorted or atypical in outline; the pigment may spread into the surrounding skin.
- Color – The color is uneven. Shades of black, brown and tan may be present. Areas of white, gray, red, pink or blue also may be seen.
- Diameter – There is a change in size, usually an increase. Melanomas are usually larger than the eraser of a pencil (1/4 inch or 5 millimeters).
- Evolution – Anything that changes over time.
Skin Cancer Symptoms
Be alert to any kind of change in a mole. The four most common and most significant signs of change are a mole or skin area that:
- Changes in size
- Changes in color—typically gets darker
- Itches
- Bleeds
Skin Cancer Risk Factors
- Fair complexion and light hair
- Many moles
- Blistering sunburns
- Ultraviolet radiation exposure from the sun or a tanning bed (exposure from a tanning bed may be riskier than exposure to the sun)
During your skin self-exam, if you find something suspicious, call your primary care provider, who can refer you to a dermatologist. If you need a primary care provider, call UofL Physicians – Primary Care at 502-588-4343 to make an appointment.
Chris Sutton had melanoma but now has a bright future thanks to the UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center. Call 502-562-HOPE (4673) to let one of our nurse navigators help you get started on your path toward getting treatment.
