Warning Signs Your Mole May Indicate Cancer
Moles appear in all races and skin color and generally during childhood and adolescence. They are a common type of skin growth caused by clusters of pigmented cells. Often times, moles appear to be as small, dark brown spots which change in appearance or fade away over time.
A person may have 10 to 40 moles. Though these moles rarely become cancerous, it’s important to monitor them for early detection of skin cancer, particularly malignant melanoma.
Moles Differ In Sizes, Shapes, And Colors
Size
Shape
Color and Texture
Some of the major factors in determining mole numbers are the genes we inherited from our parents and the amount of sun exposure, especially during childhood. Also, moles are common for people prone to freckles. Hormonal changes of adolescence and pregnancy may cause moles to become darker and larger.
Unusual Moles That May Indicate Cancer
Asymmetrical Shape
To check if your moles look the same on both sides, simply place a mirror in the middle of the mole and use your best judgment.
Border (Blurred)
Color
Diameter
Look for a mole that is slowly growing in size and is changing.
Evolving Moles
In addition to the ABCDE golden rule listed above, you should also check if the mole is raised. if a mole that wasn’t raised before, becomes raised, then this could be a sign that it is cancerous.
Cancerous (malignant) moles differs greatly in appearance. Some of them may show all of the features listed above while others may have only one or two.
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