Why You Should Never Ignore a Strange Mole

Most people want to ignore imperfections like moles on their skin, but looking more closely at these blemishes could end up saving your life.

At his practice in Santa Monica, California, and through his work in clinical trials at the John Wayne Cancer Institute and as an assistant program director of their Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship program, Dr. Trevan Fischer provides the most up-to-date treatment to patients in their battle against cancer. From breast cancer and soft tissue sarcomas to skin cancers like melanoma, he and his team offer personalized care for the best possible outcome.

Moles

Moles are a common skin growth created by groups of pigmented cells. These small dark brown areas usually form during childhood and adolescence, with most people having anywhere from 10 to 40. Most moles are harmless, but it's important to monitor them for changes that could indicate skin cancer.

Melanoma

Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer and it’s twice as common now as it was 30 years ago. Every hour of every day, one person dies from it. Fortunately, treatment is available — and more successful the earlier the cancer is detected.

While melanoma can occur anywhere on the body, it's most common in areas that are exposed to the sun like the face, neck, midsection, and legs. More rarely, it’s found on the palms of the hands, under the fingernails, and even on the soles of the feet.

What causes all melanomas isn't known, but being exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds increases the odds of developing it.

Detection

The first sign of melanoma comes most often as either an existing mole that has changed or a new odd-looking growth on the skin. While it can be hard to distinguish a healthy mole from a cancerous one, there are some guidelines you can follow. Dr. Fischer recommends remembering "ABCDE," which is an acronym for various warning signs:

• Asymmetrical
• Border that is irregular
• Changes in color
• Diameter (more than 1 quarter-inch across)
• Evolving or changing over time

Diagnosis and treatment

Prompt diagnosis and treatment are key. When caught early, the five-year melanoma survival rate is about 98% in the United States.

If you have a suspect mole or dark spot, it's important to get a proper examination and evaluation. If cancer is suspected, Dr. Fischer can take a biopsy to find out for certain. Depending on the result, more tissue may be removed and a lymph node biopsy may be conducted to see if the cancer has spread.

Treatment is determined by the test results. If it hasn’t spread, the tissue removal may be enough. In other cases where it’s not localized, treatments like immunotherapy, targeted therapy and sometimes chemotherapy and radiation are used. Dr. Fischer also has experience with new and exciting treatments through clinical trials that may be an option if needed.

If you've found a suspicious mole or have been diagnosed with a skin cancer, call Dr. Fischer today at 310-504-2548 or click to book an appointment online for a proper diagnosis.