When we think of melanoma, we usually picture moles. Dark, small, light, circular, irregular – moles can take many shapes and forms, and only some end up being malignant.
But what happens if you can’t see it?
A dangerous subtype of melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), develops on the palms and soles of the feet, and under or around the nails—areas rarely exposed to sunlight. Although overall melanoma rates are lower in Black folks, ALM disproportionately affects them.
According to data from population studies, anywhere from 16–50% or more of melanomas diagnosed in Black patients are ALM. Compare that with just less than five percent in white patients, and the disparity is quite glaring!
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