Can melanoma be cured if it is detected early?

When found early, melanoma is almost always curable, according to the American Cancer Society. Melanoma only occurs in a small percentage of skin cancer cases, but it is very aggressive.

Though melanoma is often found on the skin, it can also start in the mouth or genital areas, claims the American Cancer Society. In 2015, it is estimated that more than 73,000 people may be diagnosed with melanoma, and it may account for more than 9,000 of the expected 13,000 skin cancer deaths each year. The overall survival rate for melanoma over five years is 91 percent, but localized melanoma has a survival rate of 98 percent. About 84 percent of all melanomas are localized.