Moles: The 6 Life-Changing Questions You Must Ask And When You Should Get Them Checked

It’s a shocking fact that one person dies of melanoma (a type of skin cancer that
can spread to other organs) every 54 minutes. But if you keep an eye on your moles, and learn how to recognise the warning signs of a cancerous one, it may well save your life.

1. Why can moles be dangerous?
Most moles are completely harmless, but some can develop into melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer. Eighty-six per cent of cases are caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun, and, according to Cancer Research UK, incident rates have increased by 119% since the early 90s. If left undiagnosed, melanomas are difficult to cure, but caught early there is an 80-90% survival rate.

2. How can I tell if I have skin cancer?

The first sign of melanoma is often a change in an existing mole, or a new mole.

"Moles are made up of cells called melanocytes (which produce the dark pigment), and melanoma develops from these. So keeping track of their shape and colour is important," says consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall.

3. What should I watch out for?
Just like checking your breasts, it’s important to look out for changes in your moles.

"Make it easy to remember by thinking of it as an ABCDE list," says Justine.

A: Asymmetry Is one half of the mole unlike the other?

B: Border Is the border changing from smooth to ragged?

C: Colour Have you spotted your mole getting darker or changing tone?

D: Diameter Is it growing? Melanomas tend to be larger than the end of a pencil, around 6mm, but early ones may be smaller.

E: Evolving Is the mole changing?

A tip is to photograph any moles you’re concerned about and compare any differences.

"I also use the “ugly duckling” sign," says Justine. "This means looking to see if a particular mole stands out from any others you may have – for example, it might be black when all your other moles are brown."

4. Should I get my moles checked even if I have no symptoms?

"Everyone should have a skin check with their GP, especially if they have a lot of moles or misshapen ones," Justine says. If you have a family history of melanoma, or you’ve had lots of sun exposure in the past, then definitely get checked out. If you’re concerned about a mole, your GP will be able to refer you to a clinic or hospital if necessary.

If you don’t want to see a doctor, then Boots has a quick in-store screening service. They’ll scan your mole for £35 (£15 for any additional ones you want looking at), and let you know in a few days if you need to see a GP.

5. If I’ve had melanoma before, will I be at a higher risk of getting it again?
Anyone can develop this cancer, but if you’ve been diagnosed with it before then you do have an increased risk of getting it again.

"This is why keeping track of your moles and getting them scanned frequently is especially important in patients who have been diagnosed in the past," Justine adds.

6. How can I reduce the risk of developing it in the future?

The easiest way is to always protect yourself from UV rays. The British Association of Dermatology recommends using a suncream with a minimum of SPF30 and a UVA rating of 4 or 5 stars.

"Anyone who spends more than a short time in the sun should make sure they wear a high factor sunscreen and cover themselves with clothes, instead of relying purely on just sunscreen to protect their skin," says Claire Crilly, skin cancer screening nurse at The MOLE Clinic.

Case study: ‘I blame my melanoma on cycling in the sun as a child’
Sue, 71, says: "After I had a suspicious-looking mole on my arm removed back in 2000, doctors diagnosed me with malignant melanoma. I thought everything was fine, but then seven years later I noticed a lump in my armpit.

At first doctors thought it was breast cancer, but once it had been removed they told me it was stage 3 melanoma that had spread to the lymph nodes in my armpits. Thankfully, it’s been 10 years since my surgery and I haven’t needed any more treatment.

I’m lucky to have beaten the odds. I think the reason my mole turned cancerous in the first place was because of how often I was in the sun as a child. My dad used to be a racing cyclist and he took me out on long bike rides – I had a permanent tan!

At the time, no one realised just how dangerous all that sun exposure could be. I’m a retired drama teacher and I’m proud now that I’m able to use my time to help Cancer Research UK raise awareness about melanoma, because sadly, not everyone’s story ends like mine."



Source