What are the danger signs of malignant melanoma, the most dangerous skin cancer?
An easy way to remember what to look for is the letters ABCD: A is for asymmetry. Melanomas tend to be an irregular shape. They are often raised above the rest of the skin surface & may bleed or ooze. B is for border. The edge of the suspect mole or mark may have a notched or uneven border. C is for color. A malignant skin growth may have several different colors to it, a mottled appearance with colors that may include tan, brown, black, red, pink, white, &/or blue. D is for diameter. The size change in the diameter of the growth is considered a danger sign, so a person needs to keep track of the size of moles. If there is growth of 5 mm or more (about 1/5 in.), this is considered a danger sign. Figure 6A is a photograph of a cutaneous malignant melanoma. Although there was a trend, starting in the 1920’s until recently, for Caucasians to think that having a tan was fashionable, it is now recognized that tanning leads not just to wrinkles, but also to skin cancer. Sunburns do contribut
