I was inspired to write this blog due to my partner just having a potentially dangerous mole removed. It was a considerably large one and the extraction was quite profound. The result was lots of stitches and a relatively wide area being excavated, for lack of a better word. When the test results came back we were informed that the mole was active but not cancerous, thankfully. The important bit here is that active moles can quickly turn cancerous, so it’s important to always monitor any changes you may see in your skin markings.
Many of us don’t bother to visit the doctor unless something is very wrong or hurts a hell of a lot. (Sometimes not even then.) This can be for many reasons, lack of medical insurance, low on funds, low on time, low on motivation, tendency to procrastinate, low sense of urgency, etc. You get the idea, it’s very easy to just put things off, we all do it. But what’s the cost? So…just call, now!
I was thinking a while on this. It was well over a year ago that my partner and I decided it would be a good idea to get his moles checked. We hadn’t been monitoring them much so we didn’t really have a reference to look back on. We thought about going to the doctor but just never got around to it. We even know a specialist skin doctor who is renowned for his mole removals and has treated family members. My partner has full coverage insurance for the procedure, and we could of easily moved our schedules around to make time for it. There was nothing really stopping us, we just never took the initiative to make that first appointment. A mistake that I’m hoping other people won’t make.
Whether it’s concerning skin moles or a regular alarming pain somewhere in your body. Whether it’s random dizzy spells or a cough that won’t quit, it’s worth getting checked out. So many millions of people have past the point of no return due to failure to visit a doctor. Prevention and early diagnosis is what saves lives. Don’t let yourself or a loved one become a statistic.
“You should keep an eye on any that look different to your other moles in particular. Dysplastic moles are moles that look different to ordinary moles and may evolve to melanomas. If you have multiple dysplastic moles you are at greater risk of melanoma.
If you have any moles that are larger than most, have smudgy or irregular edges, are uneven in colour or have some pinkness, you should see a doctor and get them checked. If you notice a change in colour or shape, or the mole becomes itchy, painful or starts to bleed, see a doctor immediately.
Any moles that appear newly in adulthood should be checked. The most concerning sign, however, is a changing mole. “
There is an easy way to remember what to watch out for and it’s often referred to as the ‘ABCDE’s of moles.’ In fact, if you ever go to a doctor to get them looked at they will most likely reference it.
A is for Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other half;
B is for Border: The border or edges of the mole are ragged, blurred, or smudgy;
C is for Colour: The mole has different colours such as black, blue, white, or red;
D is for Diameter: The diameter of the mole is larger than the diameter of a pencil;
E is for Evolving: The mole looks different from others and/or is changing in size, colour or shape
‘E’ is the most important. Any new or changing mole should be checked immediately.
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