Cancerous Moles

It is said that everyone has at least one mole and most people have many more than one.  Moles are usually round or oval and no bigger than a pencil eraser.  Although normally harmless, in rare cases moles become cancerous.   Many people worry and wonder “do I have a cancerous mole?”

 To help people distinguish normal moles from cancerous moles, dermatologists have developed a criteria known as the ABCDEs;

• A stands for asymmetry – both halves of the mole should match.


• B stands for border – this should be regular and either round or oval


• C stands for color – the color should be one color including lightening or darkening.


• D stands for diameter – the diameter should be less than a ¼ inch (no bigger than a pencil eraser).


• E stands for elevation – the mole should not be raised too much above the surface of the skin nor have an uneven surface.

If you examine your moles and they do not fall under this criteria, then you should see your doctor or dermatologist for a check up and then ask about mole removal options.  He will be able to tell you whether he is concerned that you might have suspicious or cancerous moles and take the necessary further steps.  A suspicious mole is one that might have the potential to become a melanoma or has even reached that stage.  Melanomas are a serious cause for concern because they can be fatal if not found and treated early.

Suspicious moles will be removed and sent to a lab for evaluation.  If treatment is necessary, your doctor will arrange for this.

Malignant melanoma is a type of skin cancer due to the abnormal growth and spread of melanocytes in the skin.   These melanocytes are a type of skin cell responsible for producing brown pigment when exposed to the sun – they give us our sun tan.  They group together forming colored lumps which are our moles.  Ordinarily, they are harmless but sometimes the cells in a mole can become cancerous, start to grow and spread which is when we get a malignant melanoma.

Examining your skin on a regular basis is very advisable and can help detect skin cancer or cancerous moles early.  Obviously the earlier the detection of cancerous moles, the better chance of a successful treatment and cure.

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