Almost every person on the body has one or more moles. As a rule, they do not cause discomfort and do not affect health in any way. But recently, more and more often, cancer moles have begun to appear in many people, which are the harbingers of a terrible disease - skin cancer. Unfortunately, few can distinguish an ordinary mole from a malignant one, which leads to the development of the disease. The article will examine in detail what cancer moles look like, what are their features and how to get rid of them.
What is a malignant mole?
A malignant mole is a cancer called melanoma. It can form anywhere on the body, but most often appears in open areas, as they are exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of cancer. It is very important to monitor all moles on the body, especially if there are a lot of them. If you identify a malignant mole in time, you can prevent the development of melanoma.
Characteristic
To prevent the development of skin cancer, it is very important to know how to identify a cancer mole. For comparison, consider the characteristics of ordinary moles and cancers.
Ordinary harmless moles have a uniform color (brown or black), a clear border that separates them from the rest of the body. Moles have a round or oval shape, their size is about 6 mm.
A human body can usually have from 10 to 45 moles. New ones can appear up to 40 years, and some, on the contrary, disappear with age.
Now let's talk about malignant moles. As a rule, there are a lot of them, and outwardly they are very different from ordinary ones in color, size, contour (more on this below). It happens that an ordinary mole can develop into a malignant one. In order not to miss this moment and start treatment on time, you need to undergo an examination every six months or a year.
Signs of malignant moles
Malignant moles (cancer cells) have some obvious signs that will help distinguish them from a typical mole. The initial stage of the disease - melanocytic dysplasia - is still treatable. Therefore, if a cancerous mole is detected and removed on time, the development of skin cancer can be avoided.
In 1985, dermatologists developed the abbreviation ABCDE, each letter of which denotes one sign of a cancerous mole. Over time, this abbreviation was adapted into Russian, and it began to sound like AKORD (asymmetry, edges, color, size, dynamics). It is by these signs that a malignant growth can be detected. Let us consider in more detail each feature.
- Asymmetry. As mentioned above, ordinary moles are symmetrical. If you notice even the slightest asymmetry, you should urgently consult a doctor.
- The edges. Cancer moles have jagged, blurry, and even jagged edges.
- Coloring. Ordinary moles are usually the same color (black or brown). Cancerous moles on the body can be of different shades, including red.
- The size. Conventional moles do not exceed 6 mm in volume. If the mole is more than 6 mm, then, most likely, it is malignant. In addition, cancerous moles are rapidly increasing in size.
- Dynamics. If the mole is benign, then it does not change its color or size for many years. If you began to notice changes, then you need to see a doctor for an examination.
So, we examined the characteristics and symptoms of a cancerous mole. If you notice at least one of these points, immediately rush to the doctor to prevent the possible development of melanoma.
Risk factors
A person can live with moles all his life, and they will not bother him in any way. But there is always a risk that a standard neoplasm will begin to develop into a malignant one. Consider the most likely risk factors for converting a mole to cancer:
- The presence of severe sunburn or long exposure to sunlight on ordinary moles.
- People with white skin, blond hair and eyes, as well as freckles are more prone to the formation of cancerous moles on their bodies.
- If the body has a lot of ordinary moles, then the risk is very high that sooner or later they will begin to develop into malignant ones.
- Large sizes of standard moles. If an ordinary mole is large in itself, then the risk of developing melanoma is significantly increased.
- Hereditary factor. If relatives have skin cancer, then you are also at risk.
To avoid the development of melanoma, it is important to consider all these factors and, at the slightest suspicion, that the mole is becoming malignant, go to the doctor.
How is the examination done?
To be diagnosed with cancerous moles, a dermatoscopy must first be performed. Using a magnifier and a dermatoscope, you can see signs of melanoma on the surface of the growth . At the same time, the pigment of the skin and blood vessels is studied and evaluated by sampling a growing mole.
The diagnosis is confirmed after a biopsy (histological analysis). Using local anesthesia, part of the mole is removed in order to carefully study its structure in the laboratory. This method is one of the most accurate.
You can diagnose cancer at an early stage using a computer microdermoscopy system, but this method is not yet very common.
Most importantly, if you yourself noticed even the slightest changes in the appearance or size of your moles, you need to see a doctor. The doctor himself will choose the necessary diagnostic method, and with a timely examination, the risk of developing skin cancer is reduced.
Some Facts to Know About Cancer Moles
If a person has more than 50 moles on his body, then he needs to carefully monitor their condition and, at the slightest change, consult an oncologist.
In addition to the above symptoms, there are several factors that should be noted:
- Darkening. An ordinary mole may be black. But if it was originally brown and suddenly began to get dark, then this is cause for concern. Many people do not pay attention to the darkening of moles, since black is considered the norm.
- Inflammation. If the skin around the most common mole is inflamed or redness has formed, then you need to urgently go to the doctor for an examination. And in no case can you treat the inflamed areas of the skin with alcohol, this can only aggravate the situation.
- Surface. The boundaries of the mole have already been mentioned. But you should also pay attention to its surface. From above it should be smooth, without obvious roughness. If there are any, then this is a sign of melanoma.
- If darkened patches of skin appear around an ordinary mole, then this is a big cause for concern. It is urgent to check with an oncologist.
As you can see, there are a lot of signs of melanoma. It is very difficult to remember them all. Remember that any change in a standard mole may indicate that it will be malignant.
Treatment
To date, the only possible treatment option for melanoma is the removal of cancerous moles. The complexity of the operation depends on the neglect of the situation and the size of the education. For small growths, half an hour is enough time.
When removing a cancerous mole, the surgeon cuts a small area of skin (1 cm) around the mole to prevent the appearance of new ones in the same place. The larger the malignant mole in volume and size, the more skin around must be removed.
After cutting the mole, its sample is sent to the laboratory. They study its prevalence level, that is, the likelihood that new such growths will appear on the body.
What forecasts do doctors give?
Tumor thickness is the main criterion by which oncologists make predictions. If the mole was small, then the risk of re-forming it is small, and the chance of life without melanoma is increasing.
The rehabilitation period after removal of the growth of short-lived. A scar is formed at the site of the removed mole, which heals quite quickly. The size of the scar depends on the method of removal.
Laser removal is the safest way, which leaves almost no marks and scars. But this method cannot be used in advanced cases.
It should be noted that if the operation was performed in a timely manner, then the risk of melanoma in the future is very small. In the future, you just need to be regularly monitored by an oncologist to avoid relapse.
Conclusion
In the article, we examined in detail what cancer moles are, what are the methods of their treatment, as well as signs that will help to identify their development at an early stage. Watch your body and be healthy!