Most people are aware of the problem of skin cancer; they are therefore starting to take precautions when out in the sun, especially if they are particularly fair skinned. Most are also aware that they should be checking their moles and skin for changes, but knowing what changes you should be checking for and the melanoma symptoms is equally important. Melanomas are most likely to develop on the legs in women and on the chest or torso in men, but can occur on any part of the body so it important to check yourself all over. Luckily, there is an easy checklist to run through when examining your moles to work out whether or not there is anything to worry about. The checklist is easily remembered as ABCDE.
Regular moles are symmetrical; that is they are the same on both sides and are round and even. Melanoma is much more likely to be less rounded and are uneven and different on both sides.
A normal, healthy mole has smooth, round edges. Any mole which is starting to look ragged or not smooth around the edges could be showing changes which indicate the starting of skin cancer and should be checked out.
Malignant melanoma cells tend to be a variety of different colors including black, red, white or even bluish shades. A normal mole is a uniform color all over and is generally brown or beige, through to skin tone color. Any change in color of an existing mole should be investigated.
Melanomas are usually large and quick growing. Any mole with a diameter (measurement across the widest part) of more than 7 mm should be investigated. Moles are usually no bigger than the blunt end of a pencil.
Evolving is just another word for changing and it reminds us to be on the lookout for any changes to moles in terms of size, color or shape.
Using the easy to remember ABCDE checklist should help you identify any problems with your skin well before the melanoma has time to develop into a more serious case of skin cancer. There are some other symptoms which may or may not be present in addition to the ones listed above, or may be present on their own. One of these symptoms is itching. Moles should not itch or be painful and if a mole is becoming sore or irritated it’s worth having it checked out. An exception to this is when a mole is being rubbed either by another part of the body or by clothing. Bleeding is another warning sign. Healthy moles may well bleed if they are knocked or damaged, but regular or unexplained bleeding should always be investigated further.
As discussed above, being fair skinned and having exposure to UV light either from the sun or a sun bed is the main risk factor for developing melanoma. Particularly at risk are people with very pale skin and red hair. There also seems to be a genetic link, so if someone in the family has been diagnosed with melanoma, you may be at an increased risk too. Being sunburned in childhood also tends to increase your risk of developing melanoma in later life, and fair skinned people who live in hot parts of the world are also more at risk. If you fall into any of the at risk groups it is particularly important to always use a good protective sunscreen, avoid getting sunburned and cover up during the hottest parts of the day.
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