At the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center, we provide expert care for melanoma and skin cancer. If untreated, these cancers can spread to other organs in your body. When caught early, they can be treated and cured.
In partnership with UW dermatologists, our melanoma and skin cancer program specializes in diagnosing skin cancer early. We also excel at treating advanced skin cancer.
You have an increased risk of getting melanoma or other forms of skin cancers from spending too much time in the sun. Excess UV radiation can cause normal skin cells to become abnormal. The damaged skin cells can then grow out of control and attack nearby tissues.
Your skin tone and family history might also put you at risk for melanoma. Risk factors include:
Fair skin
Family history of melanoma
Atypical moles
History of blistering sunburns
Basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Basal and squamous cells are located in the top layer of skin. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. The most common area of the body where basal cell carcinoma develops is the face, head and neck, which are frequently exposed to the sun. This type of skin cancer grows very slowly and rarely spreads. Individuals who have had basal cell carcinoma are most likely to have new spots develop in other places. If left untreated, the cancer can grow into other areas, such as the tissues beneath the skin.
Like basal cells, squamous cells cancers are relatively common. Squamous cell cancers appear on areas of the body that are often exposed to the sun, including the lips and backs of the hands. Unlike basal cells, squamous cell cancers tend to spread to other parts of the body, but they can usually be removed completely.
Merkel cell carcinoma
Merkel cell carcinoma, or MCC, is a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer that has a high risk of returning. MCC tumors often appear on areas of the body that are exposed to the sun, such as the forehead, arms or legs. Merkel cell carcinoma is often considered more deadly than melanoma, but can often be treated successfully with early detection and prompt management.
Ocular melanoma (cancer in the eye)
While ocular melanoma is the most common type of eye cancer in adults, it is a rare cancer. Eye melanomas often develop in the middle layer of the eye in the uveal tract, meaning it may be seen when you look in a mirror.
Individuals that may be at increased risk for getting this type of cancer include those with fair skin, skin that burns easily, freckles, blue or green eyes and being of older age.
Because ocular melanoma shows little early signs or symptoms, it’s important to have routine eye exams. Some early symptoms may present as the following:
Blurred or vision loss
Changes in the size or shape of the pupil
Bulging of the eye
Dark spots or patches on the white of the eye
Floating spots or flashes of light in the vision
A change in the color, shape or size of a mole can be a sign of melanoma. Melanomas often appear:
At least ¼ inch or larger
Brown or black
Flat with uneven edges
Irregular or asymmetrical in shape
A melanoma can be itchy, sore and bleed. Alternatively, you might not experience any symptoms.
Moles can often appear on the upper back of both men and women. They are also common on women's legs.
Diagnosing and staging melanoma
Your doctor checks your skin. If your care team suspects a melanoma, we perform a biopsy. We take a small sample of tissue from the suspected melanoma, and a pathologist studies the tissue to look for cancer cells.
If the biopsy shows melanoma, you will likely be referred to see a surgeon. You might need more tests to see if the cancer has spread. These include imaging scans, such as CT, MRI or PET.
Your care team will find the best treatment for your melanoma. For early-stage melanoma, surgery to remove the cancer cells might be the only treatment you need. Surgery also could include a sentinel lymph node biopsy to determine if melanoma has spread to the lymph nodes.
Other treatments might be necessary if the melanoma has spread to other parts of the body or is advanced. These include:
Immunotherapy
Targeted therapy
Radiation therapy
The skin cancer team at the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center meets regularly in a specialized Tumor Board to discuss complex melanoma and other advanced skin cancer cases. Bringing together an expert team from across different programs — including oncology, ophthalmology and plastic surgery, among others — ensures patients receive the best possible care.
Offering cutting edge treatments
In 2024, UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center became one of about a dozen cancer centers across the United States — and the only one located within a 500-mile radius of Madison, Wis. — authorized to administer the new Hepzato treatment for patients with uveal melanoma that has spread to the liver.
Learn more about the treatment
Take steps to prevent melanoma
You can prevent melanoma by protecting yourself whenever you are in the sun, no matter your skin tone. Follow these tips:
Minimize sun exposure between 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Check your skin often for odd marks, moles or sores that will not heal
Do not sunbathe or use tanning salons
Get regular skin checks from a dermatologist
Reapply sunscreen every two hours when you are outside
Use extra sun protection when near the water, at high elevation or in tropical climates
Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 during times of sun exposure
Use sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB radiation
Wear sun-protective clothing outside, like a hat to shade your scalp and face
Clinical trials: Advancing melanoma care with research
Our melanoma doctors and scientists work to improve skin cancer care for you. Our Melanoma Disease-Oriented Team studies new diagnostic tools and treatments and provides multispecialty care for patients. We also lead clinical trials.
If you are experiencing life with melanoma, you are not alone. Find encouragement from other patients who have been through similar challenges.
Buck Parker was told he had months to live because of melanoma, but immunotherapy treatment stemming from a cancer clinical trial saved his life.
Dan's storyA father's experience with melanoma
Dan Lenz was the father of three young children when he was diagnosed with melanoma. The experience led Dan and his family to support melanoma research at UW Health.
The UW Health melanoma care team includes specialists in dermatology, medical oncology, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, radiation oncology and surgical oncology.
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We provide specialized care for melanoma at UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center clinics in Madison, Wis., and Rockford, Ill.
Learn more about melanoma and how you can stay safe in the sun.