Cancerous Moles
Moles are a natural occurrence in most people, and it’s only a very small few that suffer from what is known to doctors as dysplastic nevi. Luckily, dysplastic nevi or atypical moles are easy to spot, and it’s these moles that may turn cancerous. Finding them early and watching them closely is essential in the treatment and prevention of cancerous moles.
Skin moles have generally gotten themselves a bad reputation. Not all moles are cancerous moles! Let’s face it, on average the typical person has between 10 and 40 moles on their body. While in general moles tend to stay with you for a long time, they can change and even disappear of their own accord.
When it comes to spotting the cancerous moles however it’s generally agreed that a mole should be no bigger than the diameter of a pencil. It should be of a neat shape and there should be no blood, or puss coming from the growth. It should not be painful and it should be relatively static in nature i.e. not changing.
When it comes to ‘bad moles’ or dysplastic nevi, this is where one needs to be careful because these bad moles have the possibility to develop into skin cancer or melanoma. As a general guideline, if a mole starts to change in shape, size or color, then it’s time to get the mole investigated.
The American Academy of Dermatology has actually invented a really useful mnemonic when it comes to checking for dysplastic nevi or cancerous moles. It goes like this:
A = Asymmetry
B = Border
C = Color
D = Diameter
Even if a person has had a mole for a long time, it’s important to remember its ABCD, because changes are bad. If it gets larger and develops ragged edges, it’s time to visit a dermatologist, as these changes could mean that a mole is slowly developing into a very dangerous form of cancer known as Melanoma.
Melanoma is one of the most dangerous types of cancers because it’s one that is rarely detected early. People are often lax to get their moles looked at and by the time they do, it is often too late to treat things surgically.
Caught in time, mole removal may be all that’s required to deal with melanoma. Failing to get a mole checked out in time can allow the cancer to grow, and rapidly transfer to other parts of the body. Treatment will then be aggressive, long-term and also painful.
The golden rule for moles is that if they look harmless then they possibly are. However, that’s no excuse not to visit a dermatologist who will more often than not take a biopsy of the mole to ensure it’s benign.
180,000 people are diagnosed with cancerous moles each year and for many of them it’s too late to simply remove the mole. Diagnosed early, treating melanoma is simple and straightforward. Early intervention is critical. Don’t make the mistake of leaving it too late. If in doubt, visit a professional!
