My husband has a mole on his side that has grown recently. Should we be worried about this?
2006-12-14 04:39:33 · 8 answers · asked by Sarena M 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Skin Conditions
The ABCDEs of finding out if a mole is cancerous
A is it asymettrical
B Border. Is the border uneven
C color is it muliple colors.
D Diameter. Is it larger than a pencil eraser
E Elevation. Is it elevated above the skin
All though those are signs. It doesn't conclusively say that a mole is cancerous. it has to be removed and tested to be conclusive. i had all of that to a mole and the dermatologist removed it an tested it. it wasn't cancerous. Also, skin tone, as in my case, can sometimes confuse the results.
2006-12-14 04:51:12 · answer #1 · answered by christigmc 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor involving the skin cell pigment producing melanin. Moles can resemble malignant melanomas that are the most dangerous type of the skin cancers and can spread rapidly.
One feature of melanomas is easy injury with bleeding, however there are other characteristics that could indicate melanoma. The good news is that if caught early enough and treated, melanoma is curable.
Many people have moles, and most moles are not cancerous and do not cause a problem. A mole that exhibits any of the characteristics outlined below should be evaluated immediately by your primary physician or a dermatologist.
The basic ABCD rules to determine whether a mole is a melanoma are as follows:
MELANOMA CHARACTERISTICS
1. ASYMMETRY: one side does not match the other.
2. BORDER IRREGULARITY: jagged or blurred borders.
3. COLOR: color not uniform, there are different shades of black, brown, or tan. Can have white, red, or blue splotches.
4. DIAMETER: greater than 6mm
In addition, there are other features of melanoma such as surface changes (bleeding, oozing, scaliness) or signs of itchiness, pain, or tenderness.
After examining the mole, if your doctor thinks the mole is a melanoma, then a biopsy will be performed for further analysis.
2006-12-14 04:51:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I spent much of my misspent youth tanning at high altitude. Surprise! 20 years later I've got a constellation of moles on my torso. I've had 5 moles removed (very easy) and expect more. Now I go to the dermatologist every year. I have some questionable looking moles to be sure and I would recommend getting a professional opinion. General guidelines for moles to watch include uneven coloration, no symetry (not round), and I think rapid growth. But really only a biopsy can determine if the growth is cancerous or not. All mine have been benign so far but I am keeping a close eye on them. One thing you might get if you can afford it is "mole mapping", a digital imaging system that tracks moles over time to detect changes in size, shape, etc. Good luck.
2006-12-14 04:47:59 · answer #3 · answered by teeyodi 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The perimeter of it may be uneven, it is a different color, maybe a growth is coming off of it.
Yes, take him to a dermatologist very soon. Lots of people get skin cancer and in the early stages it is completely treatable but the longer you wait the more at risk you husband is for skin cancer.
2006-12-14 04:43:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should be concerned, not worried. Make an appointment with the dermatologist to have it looked at. It is always best to catch skin cancer early...It saved my mother's life!
2006-12-14 04:50:19 · answer #5 · answered by baryymahoginer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it has changed shape ir size, definitely make an appointment with a dermatologist. Malignant melanoma spreads very quickly and can be deadly.
2006-12-14 04:45:13 · answer #6 · answered by Chloe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have him go see a dermatologist, they can tell you if it looks to be cancerous and will remove it to do a test.
2006-12-14 04:49:00 · answer #7 · answered by kellybean 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when they stop digging tunnels in your yard
2006-12-14 04:48:03 · answer #8 · answered by italianone70 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋