It is challenging to guess which mole can be cancerous. Moles are small growths on your skin, and they can occur anywhere on the body, and most of them are harmless. But it is essential to know about every single change that your body is going through. Moles can be cancerous, and suddenly they can change their appearance, so is there anything you need to worry about?
It would be best if you were concerned when the appearance of the mole changes. Brian Gastman, a plastic surgeon, guides you on how you can identify whether the mole on your skin can be cancerous or not and whether you need to be worried about it or not.
Moles contain a cluster of pigments which are called melanocytes. According to Dr. Gastman, when this pigment in it becomes cancerous, it is called melanoma. Therefore, it is crucial to know the signs and importance of melanoma, potentially occurring as the cancerous mole.
Contents
How Can You Identify That The Mole Is Cancerous?
To spot the cancerous mole, the dermatologist uses the ABCDE rule. There are five signs you need to when you to see a doctor-
- A- Asymmetry
- B- Border
- C- Color
- D- Diameter
- E- evolution
- Asymmetry– The size of the mole is different. It is asymmetrical in shape, which means one half is different from the other half.
- Border– The mole has an irregular border, and it is scalloped and fuzzy. Also, it does not have a well-defined edge.
- Color– The mole has different colors, like red, pink, brown, tan, black-white, and blue.
- Diameter– Roughly, the mole is bigger than the size of the pencil eraser. It is usually bigger than six millimeters.
- Evolution– The mole can be cancerous if it grows rapidly, changes size and shapes, and has a bloody, crusty, sore, and itchy surface.
What Are The Other Signs That Can Cause Skin Cancer?
Melanoma doesn’t only develop at the place of the mole. It can also develop where there is not any preexisting mole. It can develop anywhere, and it can resemble a sore, spot, or birthmark, pimple, and bruise. Moreover, it can show on the dark underline of the fingernail or toenail. If you are suspicious about any growth that appears to be of mole, you should consult a doctor because it is easier to treat earlier on.
How Does A Doctor Treat Melanoma?
It is easier for a doctor to identify melanoma as a cancerous mole by the signs of its appearance. You can get checked by the doctor and then start the treatment. Doctors may easily spot melanoma, but if you want to be 100% sure, you can take a biopsy.
How Does a Biopsy Help To Identify Cancer?
A biopsy is when a doctor takes a sample from the mole for testing. It can be confirmed that the cancer is present or not by seeing how deep the melanoma extends below the skin’s surface. If the melanoma is deep within, the mole is more prone to cause cancer, and also, it can spread to the other parts of the body. The deepness of the mole determines what action you should take. It depends on the person, and some people are at higher risk of cancer while some are not. The disease is more common in people those having-
- Those who have a history of having previous melanomas.
- Family history of having melanomas
- A person having more than 50 moles on their body
- The person with fair skin or red hair.
- Melanoma can be cancerous to the person who has more sun damage.
One of the reasons where melanoma becomes the common reason for cancer is sun damage. That is why it is vital to protect your skin and wear sunscreen when going out.
Strange Places Where You Can Get Melanoma
Melanoma is likely to strike only at places that are more exposed to the sun. This is because the surface, when exposed to the sun, can cause cancerous moles.
You can get melanoma on the belly button, armpits, and groin.
Conclusion
Moles are a serious type of skin cancer, and about 10,000 people suffer from them each year. When moles rarely turn into melanoma, it can cause a severe type of skin cancer, and if we ignore its texture and appearance, it could be harmful. Therefore, it is crucial to get the mole checked out if its shape, size, or color looks uneven and starts to bleed, flake, crust, or itch.
Visit the doctor regularly if you feel that you are at risk of melanoma as they know better how to treat them, and they can guide you better. The more delay you make the process, the more chance it grows. Remember, an appointment with a dermatologist can save your life.
