Looking after your moles

GenoMELthe Melanoma Genetics Consortium

© GenoMEL 2011.First published 2006. Revised February 2011.

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• People who have had a previousmelanoma.

• People who have had other formsof skin cancer.

• People with a family history ofmelanoma. For more informationsee www.genomel.org/family

• People with many moles.

• People with many large andirregular moles.

• People with fair skin (skin whichburns easily in the sun), frecklesand/or red hair.

• People who have had severe,blistering sunburns in the past.

Who is at increased risk of melanoma?

This leaflet is designed to help you look after your own moles. It is hopedthat it will be useful for everyone but it may be especially valuable forpeople who are at increased risk of melanoma (a form of skin cancer).

Looking after your moles

Looking after your moles www.genomel.org/info

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Things to remember:

• If you have many moles you cannotbe expected to monitor them all ingreat detail: you are looking for onethat stands out from the crowd.

• Change usually occurs quite slowlyover weeks and months so you havetime to spot the development of thecommonest type of melanoma: thesuperficial spreading melanoma.

• You are looking for changes incolour, size or shape.

• Normal moles do change as you getolder. They often slowly becomedome-shaped with age and losetheir colour. Photographs of suchmoles follow. It is important toknow how moles change normallywith time, to distinguish fromworrying changes.

• As we get older we develop lots oflumps and bumps, which areharmless but can cause anxietyespecially when you have had amelanoma. If in doubt, show yourfamily doctor.

What should I do?

Look at your moles once a month. Good light is needed and a partner is useful to examine areas such as theback and scalp. Become familiar with your moles so that you can recognisea change. If in doubt ask your doctor to check the mole.

Looking after your moles www.genomel.org/info

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Normal changes in moles as you get older

When they first appear moles are flat and brown. However, on some partsof the body they can develop a smoothly domed shape and return to thegeneral colour of the skin. You may have seen examples of these maturemoles around the mouths of elderly people from which hairs often emerge.

These illustrations/photographs show examples of the changes in moleswhich occur normally as we get older.

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Normal moles

Some doctors will give their patients close up photographs to help themmonitor their moles.

Normal moles come in a variety of shapes and sizes and the followingphotographs show mature moles which are all benign (harmless).

These photographs show normal variations in colour and shape.

The important thing is to learn how to spot changes.

Looking after your moles www.genomel.org/info

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Atypical moles are moles which are bigger than usual and more irregular in shape and colour. Atypical moles are a little more likely to become amelanoma than others.

These are examples. Such moles should be shown to your doctor.

Atypical moles

This atypical mole isred/inflamed inappearance.

This atypical mole isboth variable incolour and irregularin shape.

This atypical mole isvery irregular in shape.

This atypical mole isboth variable incolour and irregularin shape.

Atypical moles are somewhere between a benign mole and a superficialspreading melanoma.

However, most do NOT progress, but disappear as we get older.

Moles that become more irregular in shape and colour over time should beshown to your doctor to exclude melanoma.

melanocyte benignmole

atypicalmole

melanoma in situ

radial growth phase

melanoma

vertical growth phase

melanoma

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Very early melanomas are known as melanomas in situ and the followingphotographs are good examples.

These melanomas are so early that removal should cure the patient entirely.

Melanoma in situ

This melanoma insitu has variablecolour.

This melanoma insitu arose from amole and wasrecognised by achange in shape.

This melanoma insitu is inflamed andfelt itchy.

Looking after your moles www.genomel.org/info

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These are melanomas which initially grow laterally (sideways) in theepidermis. This is known as the radial growth phase.

Superficial spreading melanomas

These melanomas often grow inmoles and in their early stages looklike moles.

Removal of a radial growth phasemelanoma by surgery should cure the patient.

Otherwise, over time, the cancercells start to grow downwards(vertical growth phase) into thedermis.

The thickness of a melanoma can beused to estimate further spread toother organs.

Early diagnosis and treatment, whenmelanomas are thin, is therefore very important.

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If people are very ‘moley’ they cannot be familiar with all of their moles- it is useful to look for one that stands out in the crowd.

In this photograph the arrow shows the mole that is subtly different, andproved to be an in situ melanoma.

Odd one out

>

Looking after your moles www.genomel.org/info

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BenignA lump or growth, which is NOTcancer. These growths do notgrow very quickly, and they do notspread to other parts of the body.

CancerA disease in which cells grow inan uncontrolled way. Such cellsspread elsewhere in the bodyand, if they are not treated,interfere with the way the bodyfunctions or works.

DiagnosisThe name given to the illnessthat a person has.

MelanocytesThe cells that produce the darkpigment that gives skin and hairits colour.

MelanomaA cancerous growth which maydevelop from normal skin ormay grow from a mole.

Melanoma in situVery early melanoma, whichremains entirely in the top layerof the skin (epidermis). This sortof melanoma is curable andshould never come back.

MoleA harmless or benign growth ofpigment cells in the skin. Theformal name for moles is naevi.

For information about sun protectionvisit: SunSmart – www.sunsmart.org.uk

For information about melanomavisit:

Cancer Help UK –www.cancerhelp.org.uk

Cancer Research UK –www.cancerresearchuk.org

Wessex Cancer Trust –www.wessexcancer.org

Macmillan Cancer Relief –www.macmillan.org.uk

BBC health information –www.bbc.co.uk/health

Marie Curie Cancer Care –www.mariecurie.org.uk

All web addresses correct as of 10/02/2011.

This leaflet has been jointly produced

by GenoMEL and the melanoma team

based at St. James’s University

Hospital, Leeds, UK.

We are grateful for the input of the

GenoMEL Joint Advisory Group (JAG)

in creating this leaflet. The JAG

includes healthcare professionals,

melanoma patients and members of

the public.

Glossary Resources

www.genomel.org/info