Tag Archive for: Melanoma

Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer

molesWritten by cancer.org

Summertime means most of us will be spending more time outdoors. Sunscreen is only one defense against skin cancer.  More importantly is to keep an eye on your skin and to pay attention to all changes, no matter how small.

Unusual moles, sores, lumps, blemishes, markings, or changes in the way an area of the skin looks or feels may be a sign of melanoma or another type of skin cancer, or a warning that it might occur.

Normal moles

A normal mole is usually an evenly colored brown, tan, or black spot on the skin. It can be either flat or raised. It can be round or oval. Moles are generally less than 6 millimeters (about ¼ inch) across (about the width of a pencil eraser). Some moles can be present at birth, but most appear during childhood or young adulthood. New moles that appear later in life should be checked by a doctor.

Once a mole has developed, it will usually stay the same size, shape, and color for many years. Some moles may eventually fade away.

Most people have moles, and almost all moles are harmless. But it is important to recognize changes in a mole – such as in its size, shape, or color – that can suggest a melanoma may be developing.

Possible signs and symptoms of melanoma

The most important warning sign for melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color. Another important sign is a spot that looks different from all of the other spots on your skin (known as the ugly duckling sign). If you have any of these warning signs, have your skin checked by a doctor.

The ABCDE rule is another guide to the usual signs of melanoma. Be on the lookout and tell your doctor about spots that have any of the following features:

  • A is for Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
  • B is for Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
  • C is for Color: The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, or sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
  • D is for Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch – the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
  • E is for Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, or color.

Some melanomas do not fit the rules described above. It is important to tell your doctor about any changes or new spots on the skin, or growths that look different from the rest of your moles.

Other warning signs are:

  • A sore that does not heal
  • Spread of pigment from the border of a spot into surrounding skin
  • Redness or a new swelling beyond the border
  • Change in sensation – itchiness, tenderness, or pain
  • Change in the surface of a mole – scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a bump or nodule

Be sure to show your doctor any areas that concern you and ask your doctor to look at areas that may be hard for you to see. It is sometimes hard to tell the difference between melanoma and an ordinary mole, even for doctors, so it’s important to show your doctor any mole that you are unsure of.

To see examples of normal moles and melanomas, visit the Skin Cancer Image Gallery.

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The ABCDE’s of Melanoma

frecklesHere are the facts about the ABCDEs of Melanoma.  Part of good sun prevention and protection is checking your body for changes in moles at least once a year. Moles, brown spots and growths on the skin are usually harmless – but not always.

Anyone who has more than 100 moles is at greater risk for melanoma. That’s why it’s so important to get to know your skin, so that you can recognize any changes in the moles on your body.

Look for the ABCDEs of melanoma, and if you see one or more, make an appointment with a physician immediately.

Asymmetry                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             If you draw a line through this mole, the two halves will not match.

Border                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The borders of an early melanoma tend to be uneven. The edges may be scalloped or notched.

Color                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Having a variety of colors is another warning signal. A number of different shades of brown, tan or black could appear. A melanoma may also become red, blue or some other color.

Diameter                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Melanomas usually are larger in diameter than the size of the eraser on your pencil (1/4 inch or 6 mm), but they may sometimes be smaller when first detected.

Evolving                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Any change – in size, shape, color, elevation, or another trait, or any new symptom such as bleeding, itching or crusting – points to danger.

Many sunscreens only protect against UVB rays, but to be protected against both UVA and UVB rays, look for a ‘broad spectrum’ sunscreen or products that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

Aside from skin cancer, the sun’s UV rays also cause:

  • Premature aging: Signs of premature aging include wrinkles, mottled skin, and loss of skin’s firmness.
  • Immunosuppression: Weakening of the body’s ability to protect itself from cancer and other diseases.
  • Cataracts / macular degeneration: Macular degeneration, for which there is no cure, is the leading cause of blindness in people aged 65 and older.

Remember to check your birthday suit on your birthday for moles, brown spots and growths!  Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.

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