When Should I Be Concerned about a Mole?
November 26, 2024
That new “spot” on your leg doesn’t look like other moles on your body. You make an appointment to see your dermatologist, and that’s a smart decision.
“When a patient notices something new and concerning, it is always good to bring that to your doctor’s attention,” says dermatologist Rachel Kushner Rosenstein, M.D., Ph.D.,, affiliated with Hackensack University Medical Center. “You may not always need to call for everything new, because you will often start to recognize the normal benign spots that come up and are new.”
One of the most severe forms of skin cancer, melanoma, can look like a mole. It comprises about 1% of skin cancers, but it may occur in men and women approximately 100,640 times this year, resulting in almost 8,300 deaths, says the American Cancer Society.
Moles are often small and regular-appearing, but they come in many shapes and sizes, and some may be ‘funny looking’ but not necessarily dangerous.
Some patients may perceive a melanoma as a harmless beauty mark, says Dr. Rosenstein. Melanoma can arise from a prior mole, but it tends to be a new spot, she says.
Risks for Melanoma
As with any medical condition, certain factors may increase melanoma risk.
- Ultraviolet (UV) light: If you’ve experienced severe sunburns or used a tanning bed even once, you may be at higher risk.
- Moles: Most carry a low risk for cancer, but many moles on the body that are odd shapes or large increase melanoma risk.
- Fair skin, lighter hair and eyes: That skin tone can freckle and cause you to burn more easily.
- Family history: Genetics play a role with this condition, too. Approximately 1 in 10 people with melanoma have a family history of this cancer.
- Age: The average age for melanoma diagnosis is 66.
- Weaker immune system: Talk to your doctor if you are diagnosed with HIV or AIDS or take drugs to suppress your immune system.
Know Melanoma ‘A,B,Cs’
Dr. Rosenstein uses the easy-to-remember “A,B, C, D, Es” of classifying melanoma:
- A = Asymmetrical shape: Benign or noncancerous moles tend to be symmetrical, meaning each “half” matches the other.
- B = Border: Benign moles have smooth edges, while melanoma edges can be ragged or uneven.
- C = Color: This varies, with black, brown, tan, or even white, gray, red, pink or blue.
- D = Diameter: Size increases, with the majority larger than 6 millimeters or ¼-inch wide.
- E= Evolving: The mole has changed in some way recently.
“The ABCDEs form the basis for how patients and doctors can look for melanoma,” says Dr. Rosenstein.
Next, a biopsy determines whether the mole is cancerous or not.
How Doctors Treat Melanoma
Melanoma can be a fatal form of cancer. However, traditional and newer treatments offer patients options for advanced melanoma, Dr. Rosenstein says.
- Surgery: Excision aims to prevent local recurrence.
- Immunotherapy: This includes checkpoint inhibitors that target proteins PD-1 and CTLA-4, promoting immune system “attack” of cancer cells.
- Targeted therapy: This precision medicine treatment blocks abnormal molecule activity to impede cancer growth.
- Cellular therapy: Treatment such as tumor infiltrating lymphocyte therapy harnesses a patient’s own immune cells.
- Combination therapy:Multiple treatments and novel clinical trials are also used to treat melanoma.
You may not know you have melanoma, says Dr. Rosenstein. See your dermatologist for a full-body skin check that looks for all skin cancers, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Your doctor will suggest how often you come back, which is typically more often if you’ve been diagnosed previously.
Next Steps & Resources:
- Meet our source: Rachel Kushner Rosenstein, M.D., Ph.D.
- To make an appointment with a dermatologist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
- Learn more about skin cancer care at Hackensack Meridian Health.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
