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The ABCDE’s can help you check your skin for melanoma. A mole or growth with any of these features should be evaluated by your dermatologist.
A. is for ‘Asymmetry’ – Do your freckles or moles appear uneven? Does one side match the other?
B. is for ‘Border’ – Do the edges look jagged, irregular or have notches taken out of them?
C. is for ‘Color’ – One solid color is good. Multiple colors in the same mole is bad.
D. is for ‘Diameter’ – A mole larger 6mm or bigger than the head of a pencil eraser is cause for concern.
E. is for ‘Evolution’ – Has the mole been changing? Is it getting bigger, changing shape or color?
Melanoma can be asymptomatic, with no discomfort or pain. A new mole or one that is changing is sometimes all that is observed.
The amount of surrounding skin removed, or margin required, is dependent on how deep into the skin your cancer has grown.
Not always, can it can sometimes bleed, change in color, or present as a sore that never heals.
Yes, once you’ve had melanoma your chance of getting another goes up. You should receive regular skin exams to ensure early detection if the cancer were to return.
Yes, it can. Melanomas deeper than 4 mm or those that involve the lymph nodes are more likely to spread to other parts of the body. Deep melanomas or those cancers that have spread to the lymph nodes are more likely to recur after treatment.
Some melanomas can be cured if caught early, but your outcome will depend on a number of factors.
Your dermatologist will perform a skin biopsy if they believe one of your moles is atypical. In this procedure, a piece of the mole is removed, processed in a lab, and examined under a microscope. Occasionally, your doctor might recommend a special procedure to see if your melanoma has spread. A sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a procedure that checks to see if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. X-rays and/or CT scans may also be ordered to see if the melanoma has spread to other parts of the body.