Black mole cancer, or melanoma, develops due to the abnormal growth of cells called melanocytes. These melanocytes form a component of skin and contain high amounts of a protein called melanin, which gives the cells a black or darkened color. Melanoma development leads to the growth of large or abnormally shaped cancerous moles on the skin. It accounted for 8,700 deaths in the United States in 2009, according to the National Cancer Institute. Understanding the early stages of melanoma development may help in early identification of the disease.
Stage 0
Stage 0 black mole cancer is the earliest form of the disease. Patients with Stage 0 melanoma have developed a cancerous lesion that's relatively small and thin: the tumor cells are located only on the outermost layer of skin and have not yet invaded into deeper skin tissue, according to the American Cancer Society. Because the cancer cells have not yet invaded healthy skin tissue, the melanoma can be removed by a small surgical procedure. During the surgery, a doctor removes the tumor growth, as well as a small margin of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor, to prevent cancer recurrence. Melanoma diagnosed at this stage has a low risk of cancer recurrence.
Stage 1
If Stage 0 melanoma is left untreated or undiagnosed, it progresses to Stage 1 melanoma. Although this is still a very early stage of melanoma, Stage 1 black mole cancer cells have begun to invade the deeper skin tissue. Tumors in Stage 1 melanoma may be less than 1mm, or 1/4 inch thick. The surface of the skin may also develop an ulceration, a scraped or uneven appearance. Alternatively, the cancer may have growth up to 2mm, or 1/2 inch thick, but does not develop skin ulceration. Stage 1 melanoma cells have not yet invaded healthy tissues outside the skin, but the cancer will continue to grow if left untreated.
Stage 2
As black mole cancer progresses, the cancer takes on the characteristics of Stage 2 melanoma. This stage can describe one of two tumor growth scenarios. A Stage 2 black mole cancer tumor may grow up to 1/2 inch thick with the presence of skin ulceration. Alternatively, the tumor may be larger than 1/2 inch with little or no skin ulceration. At this stage, patients may notice marks on the skin, such as irregularly shaped, overly dark or raised moles. The cancerous lesions can be removed with surgery, and patients may also receive drug therapy to treat the cancer, according to the Melanoma Center. Because Stage 2 is still an early-stage black mole cancer, the cancer cells have not yet migrated into other tissues, such as the lymph nodes. If left untreated or undetected, the cancer gains invasive properties and becomes more aggressive.
