| Melanoma is unique among cancers in its ability to | | | | showing up in the lymph nodes or under the skin. |
| spread literally anywhere in the body, but it usually | | | | When it spreads to organs, melanoma most |
| recurs in predictable patterns. The most common | | | | commonly metastasizes to the lungs, liver, and |
| place for an initial recurrence of melanoma is in | | | | brain, but it may spread anywhere. Melanoma |
| the lymph nodes that drain the region of the | | | | may be present in the internal organs for months |
| primary lesion. | | | | or even years before you have any symptoms, |
| For example, if a primary melanoma on the left | | | | because cancer in these locations cannot be seen |
| shin spreads to lymph nodes, it will almost always | | | | or felt and usually does not cause problems until |
| spread first to the lymph nodes in the left groin. | | | | the lesions are quite large. |
| A primary lesion located on the middle of the | | | | Symptoms experienced by people with melanoma |
| back, however, may spread first to the lymph | | | | that has spread internally vary depending on the |
| nodes in either of the armpits, to those in either | | | | organs involved. For example, melanoma in the |
| the groin or collarbone region, or even to either | | | | brain may cause headaches, numbness, |
| side of the neck. When melanoma spreads to | | | | weakness, sleepiness, dizziness, or a seizure; |
| lymph nodes, it shows up as a hard lump or lumps | | | | melanoma that has spread to the lungs or the |
| that are usually not painful unless they become | | | | heart may cause shortness of breath or cough; |
| very large. | | | | and melanoma that has metastasized to the liver |
| It is important to realize that not all swollen lymph | | | | or other abdominal organs may cause fatigue or |
| nodes are cancerous. We all get swollen lymph | | | | abdominal pain. Other lesions may cause other |
| nodes from time to time as a result of infectious | | | | problems. |
| or inflammatory processes that we may not | | | | We all experience many of these symptoms |
| even be aware of. People with a history of | | | | from time to time, of course. If they are caused |
| melanoma are no different. So, if you feel a lump | | | | by metastatic melanoma, however, they will |
| you think is a swollen lymph node, don't panic, but | | | | persist. A headache that is relieved with Tylenol, |
| do have it evaluated by your doctor. | | | | that is gone in a day or two, or that is typical of |
| In other patients, the first sign of melanoma | | | | a person's usual headaches is almost certainly not |
| recurrence may be the appearance of a lump or | | | | the result of melanoma in the brain, nor is a |
| lumps under the skin. These subcutaneous nodules | | | | fleeting pain in the abdomen likely to be |
| may show up either within or near the wide local | | | | metastatic melanoma in the liver. You should |
| excision scar or farther away from this site. | | | | contact your doctor if you develop any symptom |
| These are usually very easily seen and felt under | | | | out of the ordinary that persists for more than a |
| the skin, although they are usually not painful. | | | | few days. Lasting symptoms of any sort may be |
| Often they are darkly pigmented (blue or black). | | | | a sign of some sort of trouble, but not |
| Less commonly, melanoma may spread directly | | | | necessarily melanoma. |
| to an internal organ or organs without first | | | | |