What are the signs that a mole could be skin cancer?
When it comes to medical stuff, I don’t know so much. but I’m terrified to death off cancer. And I have this mole on the palm of my hand (strange place for a mole, isn’t it?) that I’ve had ever since I can remember. And I recently noticed that it’s losing its perfectly round shape. A little chunk of it is gone in the corner. I also realized tat whenever I pet the dog of whom the family I babysit on the head, he tries to nip the palm of my hand. I never thought anything about it, I thought it’s just a game he likes to play, but is it possible that an untrained dog can sniff out cancer? Am I just being paranoid? Can you have sakin cancer in a spot that is not normally exposed to te sun? Can some one who is medically educated please set me straight?
Tagged with: cancer • chunk • game • mole • palm of my hand • shape • strange place • sun
Filed under: Cancerous Moles
Sakura Baby (78)
Definitely have it examined by a doctor. Changing size and shape of a mole, especially if the color and shape become unsymmetrical, can indicate cancer. And some dogs can detect the chemical changed smells of cancer. They did a study with dogs detecting bladder cancer several years ago. Or he could just not like you to pet him.
Have it checked, have it removed if it really worries you.
And yes you can get skin cancer on non sun exposed spots, they get more light than you realize. It can run in families, too. It runs in mine. My grandma died from a spot that wasn’t treated properly and metastasized. My dad did a lot of farm work for decades not wearing sunscreen and not always a hat or shirt. He has spots removed from his scalp, chest, back and arms about 2x per year because he has damaged his skin so bad. UV lights can cause more damage to his skin. He had to wear sunscreen on his face when he worked in a nursing home that had UV lights. But that is extreme and doesn’t effect the average person, for him its just that his skin is so badly damaged from all those years in the sun.
look for abnormal or blotchy appearance. Irregular edges, funky discoloration. Things like that. Moles in and of themselves are harmless usually.
Please have it checked out – skin cancer usually is remedied by minor excisional surgery…
I know that when a mole appears out of nowhere on your skin, it could be a sign of skin cancer. I have also heard that discoloration could be a sign too. I highly doubt that the dog is sniffing out cancer, i just think it is attracted to the color. I suggest you get it checked out by a doctor, eventhough it is not that ig of a deal, it will make you less paranoid.
The signs of a cancerous mole are changes in shape, size, color, or elevation of a mole.
The differences between a harmless mole and one that might be a problem are: irregular borders, uneven coloration, size larger than a pencil eraser, any asymmetry (difference between left and right halves, or upper and lower halves). Any change in a mole (change in size, change in color, or bleeding) should be checked out right away. i don’t mean to scare you. A mole on the palm of your hand could change just because it’s always being irritated. I had a mole behind my earlobe my entire life. One day I noticed it was bleeding and seemed to be elevated and tender. I went to the dermatologist, who removed it and determined it was fine. The mole had become irritated from the french wire earrings I was wearing.
hi
You are right to be concerned, be aware in all changed that happen to your body. Do not become paranoid just be aware. Here are some facts for you from the American Cancer Society hope they help, and seek the opinion of a Dr. if you think you have these symptoms. Good Luck and God Bless, Pat
Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma
The ABCD rule can help distinguish a normal mole from a melanoma.
Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other half.
Border irregularity: The edges of the mole are irregular, ragged, blurred, or notched.
Color: The color over the mole is not the same. There may be differing shades of tan, brown, or black, and sometimes patches of red, blue, or white.
Diameter: The mole is larger than 6 millimeters (about ¼ inch or about the size of a pencil eraser), although in recent years doctors are finding more melanomas between 3 and 6 millimeters.
Another very important warning of melanoma is that a mole has been growing or changing its shape or color. Some melanomas do not fit the ABCD rule described above, so it is particularly important for you to be aware of changes in skin lesions, new skin lesions, any pigmented areas that look different from the rest of your moles, and any sores that don’t heal.
I am not in the med Field but it sounds a little alarming to me.I would definitely go and have a doc check it out.Give yourself peace of mind.
i think you should get it checked out i had a friend that had skin cancer and it started out on his nose it started getting red and would not clear up so he had it checked out and he had cancer so good luck