URMC / Encyclopedia / Content Search Encyclopedia How Much Do You Know About Melanoma? Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. Although skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, melanoma cases make up less than 1 in 100 of all skin cancers. Find out how much you know about melanoma by taking this quiz. 1. What is true about melanoma? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer. But it is not nearly as common as some other types of skin cancer. It occurs when the pigment-making cells (melanocytes) change and become cancer. Melanocytes are skin cells responsible for giving color to the skin. Clusters of melanocytes form moles, which are very common. Melanoma can develop in people of all ages. But it is most often seen in older adults and in young adults. A. It is a serious form of skin cancerB. It stems from pigment-making cells in the skinC. It may develop from a moleD. All of the above 2. Melanoma often develops from which of these skin features? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Most moles are harmless. Some melanomas start from moles, but others do not. If you have many moles or atypical moles (dysplastic nevi), you have a higher risk of developing melanoma. A. WartB. MoleC. FreckleD. Scar 3. Which of these may be a warning sign of melanoma? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Have any mole checked by a healthcare provider right away if it: is not round; has irregular edges or different colors; looks different from your other moles; is new or growing; or is itching, painful, or bleeding. A. A mole that's new or growingB. A mole that's itching or bleedingC. Varied colors in a moleD. All of the above 4. Melanoma is most likely to be cured if: You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Melanoma often spreads quickly. It may cause death if not treated. But if found early, it can often be cured. Finding and treating it early is critical. A. It's still only on the skinB. It has spread to the lymph nodesC. It has spread to other parts of the bodyD. All of the above 5. When should you wear sunscreen? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Put it on exposed skin every day you plan on being outside. This is true even if you aren’t going to be in the sun. You need to wear sunscreen year-round, even when it's cloudy. A. Every day if you plan to be outsideB. Only on sunny daysC. Only if you sunburn easilyD. Only while sunbathing 6. Broad-spectrum sunscreen is able to protect the skin from which of these? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is SPF only measures protection against UVB rays, which cause sunburn. UVA rays are also harmful. They can go deeper into the skin. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. A. Only UVA raysB. Ion raysC. Gamma raysD. Both UVA and UVB rays 7. What's an important part of the body to protect with sunscreen? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Put sunscreen on any area exposed to the sun at least 15 minutes before going outside. A. FaceB. EarsC. Arms and handsD. All of the above 8. Melanoma occurs mainly on the skin. Where else can it start? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is The skin is the most common site. But melanoma can also start in the eye, inside the mouth, in the genital or anal area, or even in organs inside the body. A. Inside the mouthB. EyeC. In the genital or anal areaD. All of the above Your score was: Medical Reviewers: Gotwals, Jessica, RN, BSN, MPH Lehrer, Michael, MD Southard, Chris, RN