One of the most important things about cancer is that the earlier you catch it, the better your diagnosis. Early detection can help doctors aggressively treat cancer so that you have a better chance of survival. One thing about skin cancer is that it’s very confusing when it comes to moles. Some people have a hard time figuring out if they’re dealing with a mole or cancer.
What are some tips for determining whether something is a mole or cancer?
Skin cancer appears on just about any part of the body, and it doesn’t discriminate by race, age or gender. Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells, and it unfortunately often looks just like a mole. This is the reason that many people don’t know whether they’re dealing with something benign or something deadly, and it’s also a reason they may get misdiagnosed. People must see their doctors immediately if they have any questions about their health, and they may also consider getting second opinions.
Signs of cancerous moles
If you have a mole that seems suspicious, keep the following in mind.
- One thing about melanoma lesions is that they are usually asymmetrical or irregular in shape while a noncancerous mole is usually symmetrical. A noncancerous mole divided in half would look the same on both sides.
- Melanoma lesions often have roughly shaped, irregular borders while your typical noncancerous mole usually has smooth borders.
- Another thing people can look at is color. An ordinary mole is usually brown or tan while a multicolored growth could be an indication of melanoma lesions. These colors can range from black to red and purple. They may bleed easily, and they may be flat or raised.
- Another thing that people can look at is the size of the growth. A noncancerous mole is usually much smaller than a cancerous one. You should seek immediate help if a mole seems to be growing in size.
What to do if you have been misdiagnosed
A medical misdiagnosis is devastating. It results in precious lost time and could cost someone his life. During this vulnerable and scary time in a person’s life, the advice and expertise of a lawyer can be invaluable.
