Skin Cancer From Moles

Skin cancer from moles - Melanoma or malignant moles is the most dangerous skin cancer. Quick determination and treatment are important for a good chance of survival. A new growing mole or a pre-existing one, which has changed color or shape or has increased in size, should be checked by a doctor.

A melanoma is a form of skin cancer that develops from pigment cells (melanocytes). Pigment cells are mainly found in the skin. They form moles in groups. There is a melanoma when a group of pigment cells has been changed into cancer cells.

Melanoma is becoming more common. Discovering and removing a melanoma is very important. If the melanoma is removed, the disease will never return to most people. With a number of people, the melanoma does return and can spread (metastasize). There is a greater chance that melanoma may spread in the body if the melanoma is thicker. This thickness of the melanoma (Breslow thickness) is measured under the microscope.



How do you get a melanoma?

Melanomas can occur anywhere in the skin. Sometimes a melanoma develops in a mole that has been present for a long time. And sometimes a melanoma develops without first having moles. Why someone gets a melanoma is not very clear.

There is a greater chance of getting a melanoma (risk factors) if:

• one or more family members have had a melanoma.
• you have often been burned at a young age.
• you have been much under the sunbed.
• you have a light skin with red or light blond hair.
• you have more than 5 'atypical' (large, irregular) birthmarks.
• you have more than 100 birthmarks.
• you have a congenital mole (congenital naevus) of 20 cm or larger.
• you have previously had a melanoma.

Which complaints does a melanoma give and what does a melanoma look like?

You can see this or notice if:

• there is suddenly a new, striking dark brown to black moles.
• a new or a longer mole changes (grows, gets different colors, gets very dark, thickens or changes shape)
• a mole's itches hurt, bleeds or opens.

How does physician know if you have a melanoma?

The dermatologist can often tell if the mole is melanoma. To be able to see this properly, the physician uses a 'dermatoscope'. This is a small hand microscope.

If the physician thinks you have a melanoma, it must be removed by surgery (excision). The tissue is sent and examined microscopically by the pathologist. This research can be used to say with great certainty whether you have a melanoma. After 1 to 2 weeks physician have the results and discuss them with you in a personal interview.

*Image source : BBC.com

References :

1. National Cancer Institute
2. Mohs Klinieken
3. American Cancer Society