Are Moles Cancerous: A cancerous mole is the most common sign of skin melanoma. It is a type of skin cancer. A cancerous mole is typically a new or existing mole that has undergone specific changes.
Although not every new or changing mole is cancerous, people must keep track of their moles.
Melanoma is not the most common form of skin cancer but is often the most serious. It can quickly spread to other body parts, making treatment difficult and resulting in a poor outlook.
However, getting an early diagnosis and receiving prompt treatment can significantly improve the outlook for people with melanoma—That’s why people need to stay vigilant and regularly check their skin.
A common risk factor for cancerous moles is excessive exposure to UV radiation. Therefore, people must take precautions such as limiting sun exposure, wearing protective clothing outside, and using a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
This article will discuss the causes of melanoma, some treatment options, and some prevention tips.
What Are Moles?
Moles are clusters of melanocytes. These are the cells in our skin that give it colour. These melanocytes are usually spread out between other skin cells. Their job is to transfer pigment, called melanin, to neighbouring cells to help protect them from ultraviolet damage. When melanocytes grow as a cluster or group instead of spreading out, we call them moles. It’s unclear exactly how or why our skin forms moles, but we think genetics and sun exposure may play a role.
Are Moles Cancerous?
Moles are not cancerous or dangerous. They are simply a group of normal melanocytes. But if their DNA gets damaged, it can cause them to turn cancerous. These cancerous growths of melanocytes are called melanoma. When the cancer cells in melanoma divide, they form a disorganized group or cluster that looks like a new or changing mole.
What Makes A Mole Cancerous?
A cancerous mole, or melanoma,
Results from damage to DNA in skin cells. These changes, or mutations, to the genes, can result in cells proliferating and out of control.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs when pigment. Producing cells known as melanocytes mutate and begin to divide uncontrollably. Melanocytes produce a pigment called melanin.
Melanin is responsible for the colour of the skin. After exposure to sunlight, melanocytes increase the production of melanin to protect the skin against potentially harmful UV rays—That’s why some people may tan after exposure to sunlight.
The bodies of people with darker skin naturally produce more melanin than those with lighter skin. People with darker skin have somewhat more natural protection from UV rays.
However, it is still possible for individuals with darker skin to develop cancerous moles, so these groups should also take appropriate precautions. Although cancerous moles are less common in people of colour, they usually have worse outcomes, as the melanoma that occurs in darker skin types tends to be more aggressive.
Moles are clusters of melanocytes. That is why the rapid division of damaged melanocytes can result in the development of cancerous moles. However, not every mole is cancerous. Most are harmless.
Excessive exposure to UV light, particularly UVA and UVBTrusted Source, is the most common cause of cancerous moles. The primary UV light source is sunlight, but artificial light sources, such as tanning beds, also produce UV light.
Sometimes, people may also inherit gene mutations from their parents, increasing their chance of developing cancerous moles.
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Signs And Symptoms
Identifying a cancerous mole in the early stages of melanoma can be challenging. For this reason, people should check their skin regularly for any signs of change, such as a new mole or a difference in the appearance of an existing mole.
If a person suspects a mole may be cancerous, they need to see their dermatologist for a diagnosis.
The Melanoma Research Foundation lists some symptoms that people should be aware of. These include:
- Any changes to the skin, such as a new mole or a difference in the colour, shape, or size of an existing mole
- A mole that does not heal or becomes painful or tender
- A mole that becomes itchy or begins to bleed
- A mole that has a shiny, waxy, smooth, or pale appearance
- A firm, red lump that bleeds or appears crusty (this is particularly concerning for amelanotic melanoma, which tends to go unnoticed more often because it lacks pigment)
- A flat, red spot that is rough, dry, or scaly
- A black or dark spot or streak under a fingernail or toenail that has not come from previous trauma to the nail (nail melanomas tend to be more aggressive)
Five Superficial Characteristics of Early Melanoma
Asymmetry: One-half of a cancerous mole is likely to look different from the other.
Border: This may be irregular, meaning the edges are ragged, notched, or blurred instead of smooth.
Colour: They may contain shades and colours, typically black, brown, or tan. Some may include white, grey, red, pink, or blue.
Diameter: Cancerous moles can change in size, usually growing larger. It may be cancerous if a mole becomes more significant than 6 millimetres (one-quarter of an inch).
Evolving: A change in the appearance of a mole over weeks or months may indicate that it is cancerous.
People can also use the “ugly duckling” method. This strategy relies on the notion that any cancerous moles will stand out like an “ugly duckling” compared to a person’s other moles. If a person is concerned about a mole’s appearance, they should contact a dermatologist for a complete diagnosis.
It is important to note that only 20–30% of melanomas arise from a preexisting mole. The majority present as a new mole.
Diagnosis
People may detect the early symptoms of a cancerous mole by using the ABCDE rule and regularly examining any new and existing moles.
People should try to check all areas of their skin, including their back and other sites that may be difficult to see without assistance. They can use a mirror or phone or ask a partner, family member, friend, or doctor to help with these areas.
If a person has any worries or concerns about a mole, they should see a dermatologist, who can use microscopic or photographic tools to examine it in more detail.
Other physicians may not have received the training necessary to identify abnormal moles, potentially leading to unnecessary biopsies and potentially delaying care.
A dermatologist is specially trained to identify abnormal moles and melanomas. However, even with their years of training, this can sometimes be difficult.
If a dermatologist suspects a mole may be cancerous, they may perform a biopsy. It is a procedure wherein a healthcare professional takes a mole sample and sends it for examination in a laboratory.
Treatment
The treatment for a cancerous mole is typically the same as for other cancers. However, unlike cancers of the internal organs, it will be easier to access the cancerous tissue and remove the mole with surgery. Therefore, surgery is often the primary treatment option for most cancerous moles.
The procedure typically involves removing the mole and some of the surrounding noncancerous tissue. In some cases, surgery may be a sufficient remedy to treat the cancerous mole when a person has received an early diagnosis. A skin graft may be necessary after the surgery if the mole covers a large area.
Usually, a surgeon will perform the excision while a person is under local anaesthetic. It means that a person will be awake during the procedure but not feel any pain, as the surgeon will have numbed the affected area.
The surgeon will send this sample of the removed tissue to pathology to determine the extent of cancer involvement.
If there is any risk that cancer has spread into other organs, bones, or blood, a doctor may perform other exams, such as a lymph node biopsy, radiologic studies, or both.
If cancer has spread, a doctor will request treatments depending on where in the body it has applied to. These may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted therapy
Prevention
There is no sure way to prevent cancerous moles. Some risk factors — such as age, fair skin, and family history — can make certain people more likely to develop cancerous moles.
That said, people can take appropriate precautions to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer.
Most importantly, people should avoid excessive exposureTrusted Source to UV radiation. They can achieve this by seeking shade, using sunscreen, and wearing clothes that protect the body from the sun when outside. Doctors also recommend avoiding tanning booths, lamps, and beds.
People should also regularly check their skin to identify any new or changing moles, especially if they have a family history of melanoma.
Key Point
Melanoma of the skin is an aggressive type of skin cancer that commonly presents as a cancerous mole.
It is essential for people to monitor their moles regularly and seek medical attention for any that are new, changing, irregular, or growing.
People should also take appropriate preventive measures, such as limiting their UV exposure and applying sunscreen.
