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Melanoma typically begins as a mole.

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If you identify it early and it hasn't spread,

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it can be surgically treated.

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Here you see the mole being removed,

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along with surrounding skin.

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The extra skin is taken to ensure that no cancer cells

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are left behind.

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Melanoma is dangerous because it can spread

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beyond what you can see, moving deep into your skin

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where it can gain access to your lymphatic vessels.

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This allows cancer cells to travel

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to distant locations in your body.

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Cancer cells can also travel to different parts of your body

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by way of your blood vessels.

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In this example, melanoma cells migrate to a lymph node.

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From the lymph node, the melanoma cells

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can then travel to other parts of your body.

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Here, you see cancer spreading to the lung.