How to Tell If a Mole Is Cancerous?

Firstly, don't panic!

Even if the mole does turn out to be cancerous - provided action is taken early the outcomes are generally good.

The first thing to do before even looking at any individual mole is to work out in your mind how likely it is to be a 'bad' mole or melanoma skin cancer.

We do this by stacking up all of the things that might possibly make us more worried about melanoma skin cancer. There's no hard and fast rule to this but the more worrying things there are in the story or 'history' that are present; the lower threshold for taking it out to check it under the microscope.

Cutting out moles to check them under a microscope is fairly straightforward but has it's own risks and will leave a scar. An expert dermatologists opinion together with a good history and examination will help to prevent unnecessary procedures.

So, what are the things in the history are more concerning?

1. Having had melanoma skin cancer in the past

2. Melanoma skin cancer in a 1st degree relative

3. Large numbers of unusual looking moles

4. Previous moles that have been 'active' (dysplastic moles)

5. Periods of intense, intermittent sun-exposure (e.g. lots of foreign, sunny holidays)

6. Fair skin, blonde/redhead, burns easily

7. Blistering sunburn as a child

8. Living or working abroad in sunny climates

9. Spending lots of time outdoors (farming/gardening/military etc.)

10. Mole is new

11. Mole is changing/becoming darker/growing in size

12. Mole is itching/crusting/bleeding or ulcerating

Any of these features may cause your dermatologist to consider removing the mole to check it and make sure it is ok. If more than one of the above is present, or if it looks abnormal to them then the threshold for doing this would also be reduced. A decision will often be made in the doctor's mind by this stage.

Next, they will want to look at the skin in generally and the mole itself and may also want to check to feel your lymph glands. There are various stages to this and often it is a more general, holistic process depending on ability.

The first step is to assess the skin overall and various questions (in no particular order) are considered by the doctor such as:

- Are there lots of moles overall?

- Does this mole look different to the others? ('ugly duckling' sign)

- Where is the mole? Is it on an area that gets lots of sun?

- Is the patient fair-skinned/blond or red-haired?

- Do they look like they might burn easily?

- Does the skin in general look like it has caught a lot of sun? Are there signs of photoaging?

- Are there any other areas that I'm worried about?

- Does the patient have any scars from moles that have been cut out before that they may have forgotten about?

- Do they look well/unwell?

- Are they tanned?

- What does the mole itself look like?

o Does the mole look symmetrical (good)? If you folded it in half would each half match the other?

o What do the edges look like? Are they regular (good) or irregular (more worrying) with lots of twists/turns

o Is the colour the same throughout the mole (good) or does it have darker areas or 2-3 colours within it (more worrying)

o How big is it? (moles >5-6mm are more concerning)

o Are there any hairs growing in it (generally good)?

- Are there any lumps or bumps in the lymph nodes that might show something has spread or raise the suspicion further.

In addition, moles that have been present many months unchanged are often more likely to be normal.

The next step is then to look at the mole under a dermatoscope (basically a magnifying glass and a light joined together). This is something that should be performed by an expert only as it can actually make things harder to interpret and cut accuracy in untrained hands.

The dermatoscope is very useful for confirming some features of both harmless and harmful pigmented lesions. It is particularly good at helping to show seborrhoeic keratoses (or seborrhoeic 'warts') which are completely harmless coloured 'moles' that nearly everybody gets with time. These can sometimes seem alarming to the untrained eye but clearly show a 'greasy', stuck on appearance with some characteristic features such as a 'warty' surface, pseudofollicular openings and milia-like cysts.

Harmful or worrying features under the dermatoscope include:

1. Assymetrical appearance or irregular border

2. Dark blobs/spots (particularly near the border)

3. Pseudopods (foot-like projections at the border)

4. Irregular pigment network

5. Blue-white 'veil' - a characteristic blue/white structure that appears when examined closely with a dermatoscope

6. Areas of 'regression' - where part of the mole appears to have disappeared or 'resolved'.

7. Signs of ulceration, crusting or bleeding

8. Abnormal colour patterns.

Using a combination of all the above a decision is then made about whether to remove the mole or 'watch and wait'. It is often helpful to have a baseline photograph of the problem regardless of whether a decision to remove it is taken or not.

Nothing in medicine is perfect and if there are any concerns at all then a decision may be made to remove the mole or to take a small sample ('biopsy') to confirm the first suspicions.

If you have any concerns about a mole at all (particularly with any of the above features) then it is best to have an expert health professional check it as soon as possible.

To learn more visit:

DermPlan - The Site for Skin!

http://www.dermplan.com/

Original article

How Ordinary Moles Can Turn Cancerous

Summary

By definition, a mole is a lesion found on or under a person's skin. The skin mole has nevus cells. Moles are typically acquired during the early stages of an individual's life, sometimes vanishing during the middle age.

The average person may have somewhere between 10 and 40 moles. The most common kind of moles are moles that occur above the surface of the skin, flat moles, and skin tags. Skin moles that lie in the dermis are embedded in the skin and those that on or covered by the epidermis rest on the skin's outer layer. They're usually benign and range in size, color, texture, and may occur at any part of the body. Although most skin moles are oval and not larger than a pea or raisin. However, some of them may resemble malignant skin lesions since they show a different color with an amorphous shape.

What is melanoma?

Some moles are melanomas which are harmful tumors that are a type of skin cancer. Although it's less common than other kinds of skin cancer, it's considered the deadliest form. Diagnosis is more prevalent in women that live in warm climates, as excessive exposure to the sun is one of the top causes of melanoma. Fair-skinned people with light-colored hair and eyes are also more at risk. This is such because the skin is less resistant towards the grueling and harsh rays of the sun which may or may not contain ultraviolet light, which further increases the chances of developing melanoma.

What are causes of cancerous moles?

While ultraviolet (UV) light exposure is usually the culprit of the most typical cause of cancerous moles, there's also other ways to become afflicted with melanoma. Tanning beds are another common cause, as well as extreme exposure to x-rays. Additionally, those who have impaired immune systems from taking various medications at once are more susceptible to fall victim to melanoma. Frequent contact with chemicals in oil, soot, and tar are contributors as well.

How are cancerous moles diagnosed?

Dermatologists are skin specialists that are most likely to detect melanoma. They may run diagnostic tests if they see symptoms, such as darkish blue coloring and irregular shaped moles, on the skin. Most indications are easy to spot with the naked eye, and it's important to act on clues early to prevent metastasis or the spread of cancer to other organs.

What treatments are available for cancerous moles?

There's several forms of treatment for cancerous moles that are often performed by nuclear medicine technologists or plastic surgeons. Many people choose to undergo cosmetic surgery to have their mole(s) removed. Some endure chemo and/or immunotherapy while radiation therapy may work better for others.

Check out my website for more information on cancerous moles.

Please visit Mole Removal Techniques for more insights on mole removal tips and techniques.

Original article

Useful Tips to Treat a Cancerous Mole

It is very important to treat a cancerous mole as soon as it appears. Moles are generally harmless growths that are darkened due to collections of pigment in the skin. These areas may show up during the first year of life and may continue to appear well into the fifth decade of life. Sun exposure can also cause moles to develop and studies have shown that the more moles a person has, the more they are susceptible to developing a cancerous mole.

In general, moles are a product of heredity and are more than likely to be little more than cosmetic nuisances. They may be flesh-colored, brown, or dark black, flat or raised. However, if you ever notice a mole that begins to change shape or appearance then you should schedule a visit with a dermatologist immediately to rule out a cancerous mole.

There are three basic types of skin cancer. These are Basal Cell Carcinomas, Squamous Cell Carcinomas, and Melanomas. A cancerous mole characterizes all three of these skin cancers and all three of these are the result of too much Ultra Violet rays from the sun. There is no denying the importance of using sunscreen and other protective devices to prevent sun damage and possible skin cancers. Sun protective clothing, sunglasses, hats, and lotions are all necessary in preventing skin from being exposed to these rays.

If you develop a mole that you believe may be cancerous, you will need to schedule an appointment and arrange to have a biopsy done. The biopsy can be performed under local anesthesia and involves the dermatologist taking a sample of the mole and having it examined in the lab. The lab will look for cancerous cells and if they are found, they will be able to determine what type of cancer it is.

Most cancerous moles will be removed immediately with a high percent success rate. Basal Cell Carcinomas are often removed without any threat of life involved. However, any cancerous mole that is left to develop on its own will eventually lead to loss of life. Squamous Cell Carcinomas are also removed and may require the use of radiation to completely eradicate the cells.

Like Basal Cell Carcinomas, if caught early, they have a very high success rate. Malignant Melanomas, however are the most dangerous forms of skin cancer and a Melanoma, cancerous mole must be removed immediately. Malignant Melanomas may spread from organ to organ, and can cause devastating damage.

Chemotherapy isn't often required when dealing with skin cancer. It is usually a matter of cutting out the mole. There are different procedures that may be used to remove the mole. Some of these include using Cryotherapy, or freezing the mole of. This is done by using a solution of Liquid Nitrogen and covering the mole. Excision is also an option.

To be effective, the excision should remove the base of the mole. It is important to check the area after the procedure to make sure that all traces of the cancerous mole has been removed.

Leo's writes articles online. He covers a wide range of topics specialising in fitness, dieting and weight loss, visit his latest website at http://www.antioxidants-guide.com/ which discusses black rice benefits to your health.

Original article

How To Check For Cancerous Moles

If you have some skin moles (and most of us do) they need to be watched for signs of change which may indicate malignancy. That's not to say we need to be paranoid about it, just mindful of the fact that early detection of malignant melanoma increases the chances of recovery dramatically.

The vast majority of moles are totally harmless and although their appearance may annoy you, generally they will cause you no problems and can on occasion, disappear of their own free will. They are, however, a potential risk and must be monitored, especially if they are exposed to sunlight for extended periods.

If you wish to remove any of your moles for personal reasons, there are many ways to do it including, conventional surgery, laser surgery, cryogenics (freezing) and even mole removal creams that can be used at home.

Early Signs of Cancerous Moles

One way of remembering what to look out for when checking your moles is to use the ABCDE mnemonic.

A = Asymmetry where each half of the mole is not symmetrical.
B = Border irregularities, where the edges of the mole are blurred or fuzzy.
C = Color of the mole. It has a range of shades from pink, brown to black.
D = Diameter of the mole is greater than 6mm (size of a pencil eraser).
E = Enlarging of the mole, where it grows over time.

Note: The 6mm guide is not cast iron and some smaller moles can become malignant.

By watching for any of the above signs you should be reasonably assured that they are not becoming malignant. If you do observe any of the indications, it is vitally important to visit your doctor or dermatologist, for assessment and diagnosis.

If the specialist is at all concerned, it is likely they will recommend surgical removal of the mole in question. Generally no other form of removal is appropriate in these cases. During the procedure the complete mole will be excised to ensure all potentially cancerous tissue is removed and a sample will be sent for analysis.

Follow up treatment may then be offered if the biopsy result proves positive, to stop the potential spread of cancer cells into the surrounding areas. With malignant melanoma, cancer cells can travel very quickly through your bloodstream to create secondary cancers almost anywhere within your body and for this reason, early detection and removal may make the difference between life and death.

If you have medical insurance it may well cover the cost of mole removal in cases where melanoma is suspected, but cosmetic removal is not generally covered.

Malignant melanoma is not restricted to moles and may develop anywhere on the skin, especially following overexposure to the sun. For this reason it is important to sunbathe sensibly, avoid mid-day bathing when the sun is at its hottest, always use a high factor sun screen and re-apply at regular intervals (not just after swimming).

You can check out these links for cancerous moles pictures and additional cancerous moles advice.

Original article