Most cancers don’t cause symptoms until they reach an advanced stage. Skin cancer is different. All skin cancers, including melanoma, announce their presence with early signs that you can see, allowing you to have the cancer removed long before it spreads.
At Allure Dermatology, Theresa Durchhalter, DO, FAAD, specializes in full-body skin exams, finding signs of melanoma (and other skin cancers), and removing the cancer.
She’s also dedicated to helping patients prevent melanoma, teaching them about monthly self-skin exams and how to identify skin cancer symptoms. Here, she explains what you need to know about melanoma’s early warning signs.
When most people mention the early warning signs of melanoma, they usually refer to the five changes in a mole’s appearance as it mutates into cancer. But that’s just one possible sign.
Melanoma’s five early warning signs include:
When cancer develops in an existing mole (or another brown skin lesion), the cancerous growth changes the mole’s appearance. If you notice one (or more) of the following five “ABCDE” changes in a mole, you should immediately schedule a skin evaluation:
Healthy moles should be symmetrical, with one half matching the other. If one side looks different, it’s a sign of melanoma.
Are the borders around the mole smooth and even? A cancerous growth may cause irregular or jagged edges.
Each mole should be one even shade of brown. Cancerous moles have different shades of brown, tan, and black. You could also see slight red or blue areas if the cancer is advanced.
Consider it a strong warning sign for cancer if you have a mole more than one-quarter inch in diameter (similar to the size of a pencil eraser). However, you can have cancer in a small or typically sized mole.
Moles shouldn’t evolve. Any change in a mole — those mentioned above and changes like itching, bleeding, or crusting — are warning signs for melanoma.
You may be surprised to learn that 70%-80% of melanomas appear as a new growth rather than developing in an existing mole. The growth may resemble a new mole, freckle, or generic brown spot. Though new cancerous lesions are more likely to appear in areas exposed to sunlight, they can grow anywhere on your body.
You have a better chance of recognizing a new lesion (and changes in existing moles) if you examine your skin once monthly.
A mole or skin lesion that turns into a non-healing sore, especially if it oozes or bleeds, is highly suspicious for melanoma. You may also notice redness or swelling beyond the edge of the mole. A sore that bleeds and crusts or heals and then reappears may be a sign of basal cell carcinoma.
Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is a melanoma that’s more common in people of color. ALM is different from other melanomas because it’s not caused by exposure to sunlight. It also affects your hands and feet, often growing under your fingernails or toenails, on your palms, or heel, sole, or the side of your foot.
ALM may begin in a mole on your hands or feet or a new brown or black lesion. Sometimes ALM causes a thick elevated growth. You could have damaged nails or a dark line in the center of your nail.
One type of melanoma, amelanotic melanoma, appears as a pink, light red, or skin-colored mole. These lesions are easy to miss if you’re only looking for brown moles and lesions. Though amelanotic melanoma is rare, it’s an aggressive cancer that grows and spreads quickly.
Melanoma is dangerous because it’s hard to treat after it spreads beyond your skin. That’s why early identification and treatment are crucial.
Don’t wait to schedule a skin exam if you have questions or concerns about skin lesions or want tips on how to do a monthly self-skin exam. Call the office or connect online to request an appointment today.
