For more information from the National Cancer Institute about melanoma, see the following:

• Melanoma Home Page ¹
• What You Need to Know About™ Melanoma ²
• What You Need to Know About™ Moles and Dysplastic Nevi ³
• Skin Cancer Prevention ⁴
• Skin Cancer Screening ⁵
• Biological Therapies for Cancer: Questions and Answers ⁶
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: Questions and Answers ⁷

For general cancer information and other resources from the National Cancer Institute, see the following:

• What You Need to Know About™ Cancer - An Overview ⁸
• Understanding Cancer Series: Cancer ⁹
• Staging: Questions and Answers ¹⁰
• Chemotherapy and You: Support for People With Cancer ¹¹
• Radiation Therapy and You: Support for People With Cancer ¹²
• Coping with Cancer ¹³
• Support and Resources ¹⁴
• Cancer Library ¹⁵
• Information For Survivors/Caregivers/Advocates ¹⁶

Glossary Terms

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

The National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's principal agency for cancer research. The National Cancer Institute conducts, coordinates, and funds cancer research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer. Access the National Cancer Institute Web site at http://www.cancer.gov. Also called NCI.