Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), so a tumor is usually clearly visible. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages. Unlike many other cancers, including those originating in the lung, pancreas, and stomach, only a small minority of those afflicted will actually die of the disease. Skin cancers are the fastest growing type of cancer in the United States.

Malignant melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer. Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes which are found predominantly in skin but also in the bowel and the eye. It is one of the rarer types of skin cancer but causes the majority of skin cancer related deaths, as it spreads to other part of the skin. It is due to uncontrolled growth of pigment cells, called melanocytes. Around 160,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed worldwide each year, and it is more frequent in males. According to a WHO Report about 48,000 melanoma related deaths occur worldwide per year.

Did you know? Malignant melanoma accounts for 75 percent of all deaths associated with skin cancer. This type of skin cancer takes control and slowly tears you apart.