Is It Skin Cancer? How to Tell a Harmless Mole from a Melanoma

[Catty1]

Further to mrspunkysmom about a big favour - getting your health checked out - I just came across the following article:

http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/skin-cancer-tell-harmless-mole-melanoma-170048216.html

http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/X8lxP3L7i5XzV2BTvNAaAg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_CA/News/iVillageCanada/abcde-skin-cancer-chart-636.jpg


Know Your ABCDEs
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AjfK2rsf9AoyV91baiIyu8B9.MF_;_ylu=X3oDMTFqMDg xZXM0BG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIEJvZHkEcG9zAzEEc2VjA01lZGlhQ XJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTMwanBuOTI0BGludGwDY2EEbGFuZwNlbi1jYQRw c3RhaWQDNzMzYjI5MTItZGY3Yy0zMDdiLTg1YjctNTI0ZGMyOT Q3YzkyBHBzdGNhdANoZWFsdGh5bGl2aW5nBHB0A3N0b3J5cGFn ZQ--;_ylv=0/SIG=12bfbbdkp/EXP=1341878679/**http%3A//www.ivillage.ca/health/womens-health/skin-cancer) but it can be hard to identify. The ABCDE guide helps. If your mole fits the characteristics below, call your dermatologist pronto:
Asymmetry—if the mole could be folded in half, the two halves wouldn’t match
Border irregularities—the mole’s borders are uneven or blurred
Color variations—the mole has mixed shades of tan, brown, black or other hues
Diameter—the spot is bigger than a pencil eraser
Evolution—its appearance has changed in some way

More at the link.

[Lady's Human]

Easier way?

If you have a question see a dermatologist or your doc before it turns into a visit with a surgeon.

[mrspunkysmom]

Moles run on my mom's side. She was covered in them as she got older and I am starting to be. Every time I show a strange one to a doc, they act like I am bothering them. It is tempting to become a Serial Patient!

I am seriously thinking of a second career as a patient advocate!

My dad died from a sarcoma, but his started internally. He was in Laos in the early 60's and that meant possible exposure to toxins.