Watch Out For Cancer Moles

skin tags

All of us know someone who has been touched by cancer in some way, whether it is skin cancer or another type. Skin cancer, while normally not considered to be as serious as other types, can still be a dangerous disease. However, if skin cancer is caught in the early stages, as when a individual notices changes in the moles that they have on their body, then it can possibly be cured. This is why it is so important to watch for any changes that may be occurring that would lead you to believe that you may have skin cancer, such as skin tags and changes in the moles, especially if you believe they are cancer moles.

Thankfully, there are ways to find out if you suspect you have skin cancer, which would, in turn, propel you to seek medical help in the earliest stages of the disease. For easy recall, the method of identifying cancer moles or melanoma is known as the ABCD method. Each of these letters stands for one major symptom of the disease, and a reason for you to push the panic button. Do not ignore the ABCD signs of the moles, unless you want to be part of the annual worldwide casualty list of this horrible disease.

The first letter A stands for 'asymmetry.' Normally, a mole is round and symmetrical in shape. It is often when the mole begins to grow that it looks a little skewed or asymmetric. In case this happens, ensure that you visit a doctor and mention the first time you observed the change in the skin moles. The second letter B stands for 'border.' If the border of your moles looks jagged or irregular, instead of definite and strong, then this could be a sign of cancer. The letter C indicates another important aspect, 'color.' Often, these moles change in color suddenly, leaving you quite surprised. Lastly, the letter D stands for 'diameter.' Most cancerous moles will grow in size; hence, an increasingly larger diameter could alert you to see a doctor.

There are two categories of people who are likely to fall prey to this type of cancer: those with fair (white) skin; those who work for long hours in the sun; those with a family history of cancer (heredity). If you fall into any one of these brackets, then keep a close watch on the cancer moles so you will have the best odds, when and if you discover you suffer from melanoma.