Melanoma Skin Cancer Screening

Melanoma develops when melanocytes undergo malignant transformation. Its danger is not determined by colour alone: once the tumour invades vertically into the skin, it can access lymphatic and blood vessels. Breslow thickness, measured in millimetres from the epidermal surface to the deepest invasive cell, therefore becomes a major prognostic and treatment variable. Routine total-body skin examination is not recommended for asymptomatic people in the general population. This does not mean that a new or changing lesion should wait for a scheduled screening visit. A lesion that raises concern becomes a diagnostic problem and needs prompt clinical assessment. People at high or very high risk should be offered an annual total-body skin examination performed by a physician. The nurse’s assessment helps identify who may need that pathway, detects lesions that require faster attention, and supports accurate documentation and referral. The nurse does not diagnose melanoma from appearance alone.