People with the following characteristics are at risk:
- * fair skin, light hair, light eye colour and the tendency to burn easily and tan with difficulty
- * large brown moles at birth
- * unusual moles (larger than 0,76 cm, irregular in shape and multi-coloured)
- * a record of blistering sunburns, especially when young
- * indoor occupations and outdoor recreational habits
- * a family history of malignant melanoma (type of skin cancer)
- * had a malignant melanoma in the past
- Some facts about skin cancer in the UK:
- * 67 000 cases of non melanoma skin cancer per year
- * 8 000 cases of malignant melanoma (4-5% of skin cancers)
- * Malignant Melanoma causes 80% of deaths due to skin cancer
- * The incidence has trebled since 1975
- * Most moles develop before age 30 (in other words, if a new “mole-like” lesion develops after this age… be suspicious!
.Q2: When should I be concerned about a mole or skin lesion?
The ABCDE rule can help you remember what to look for when you’re checking any moles on your skin:
- * A for asymmetry: A mole that, when divided in half, doesn’t look the same on both sides
- * B for border: A mole with edges that are blurry or jagged
- * C for color: Changes in the color of a mole, including darkening, spread of color, loss of color, or the appearance of multiple colors such as blue, red, white, pink, purple or gray
- * D for diameter: A mole larger than 1/4 inch (or 6mm) in diameter (about the size of a pencil eraser)
- * E for elevation: A mole that is raised above the skin and has a rough surface.
At Broadgate General Practice we can put your mind at ease about suspicious looking skin lesions. Our experienced doctors can examine the lesion and recommend further specialist reviews and testing should this be required. We are able to perform cryotherapy (freezing of non-cancerous lesions) and biopsies at our Guildford and Putney practices.
REMEMBER – This form of cancer can be successfully treated if the early signs are acted upon early enough. See us today for peace of mind!
Contact Broadgate Practice here
