What is melanoma

I know what basal cell cancers are - I've got more of those than you can poke a stick at (as my dermatologist so eloquently puts it!) - but I wanted to know what a melanoma is...

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in the part of the skin called melanocytes, which produce and contain the skin pigment melanin. Frequently, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of an existing mole.

In men, melanoma is often found on the trunk (the area between the shoulders and the hips) or the head and neck.
In women, it often develops on the lower legs but for both men and women it can occur on any skin surface.

So now you know too.