Signs of Melanoma Changes in Moles and Skin Cancer
What are the first signs of melanoma? Changes in moles are important symptoms. Knowing what signs to look out for in your moles is the first step to prevention of melanoma -- the most serious and the deadliest among the 3 types of skin cancer.
Appearance of a new mole especially when the new mole comes with a color of black or blue-black, and
Abnormal derma growths.
photo courtesy of National Cancer Institute
What are the symptoms of malignant melanoma skin cancer?
Moles are important symptoms. Whether they are cancerous or not is based on 4 signs called the ABCD of moles.
A for Asymmetry
This pertains to the shape of your mole. If it is an abnormal mole, the shape is not balanced. One side doesn't match the other side.
B for Border
The outline of abnormal moles is irregular, uneven or blurred. Their color spill over to the dermis surrounding the moles.
C for Color
Color is also not balanced. If the abnormal mole is black, you can see shades of other colors such as brown, pink, tan, white or blue.
D for Diameter
The mole may get bigger in size if it's cancerous. The normal size is that of the eraser of a pencil. If it becomes larger than this, it is one of the sure signs of skin cancer.
Do all the signs of melanoma have the ABCD features?
Most symptoms do and some signs may only have one or two of the ABCD features.
Prevention and detection of early melanoma is possible if you know what changes in your skin to look out for.
Unusual changes include...
formation of a new black area on the skin,
formation of fine scales on the mole, and
itching.
What are signs of advanced melanoma?
An abnormal mole has a texture that can either be...
hard or lumpy,
itching, and
bleeding.
These are symptoms of advanced-stage melanoma.
Why is it important to detect signs of melanoma at its early stage?
Survival rate is very good as it can be cured as long as the tumor is still thin and has not spread deep into the skin. Skin cancer is also the easiest to detect as long as you know what causes it.
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