About Moles and Malignant Melanomas

What are moles?

The name "Mole" is given to the brown spots that are found on the skin. They are different from freckles that usually are very light brown and appear in patches in the nose, cheeks and sometimes chest, shoulders and back (if exposed to the sun).

Moles occur in most skin types. They can occur on almost every part of the skin, although they are uncommon on the palms of the hand or soles of the feet.

They can range from very small (less than a millimetre across) to being very large - sometimes up to several centimetres across.

They can be flat or raised from the surrounding skin surface. They can range in colour from very light brown to very dark, almost looking black.

Some can have hair growing out of them.

Moles are collections of cells that contain the brown pigment called Melanin. These cells are called Melanocytes.

Are Moles dangerous?

Normal moles are not at all dangerous. However, they can change into malignant melanomas, which are very dangerous.

What are malignant Melanomas?

Melanomas are skin cancers arising from the melanocytes (skin cells containing the brown pigment Melanin). They are the most malignant of all of the skin cancers.

When they first form, Melanomas are in the surface of the skin only. At this point they can be completely cured if they are completely excised (cut out by a surgical operation). If they are left, or only partially removed, they continue to grow.

As they grow deeper, they can penetrate through the skin and get into the blood stream or into the lymphatic vessels under the skin. At this stage they can spread rapidly, going to the local lymph nodes and then on to the liver or brain. At this stage the condition is known as metastatic melanoma, and there is very little that can be done to stop it spreading further and eventually killing the patient.

How many people die of Malignant Melanoma each year?

Over 2,000 people die of Malignant Melanoma each year in the UK.

Malignant melanoma is the commonest cancer in young people between the ages of 15 and 34. More females than males get it - but more males die of it than females. This may be due to the fact that females appear to be more health conscious and seek advice earlier if they suspect something is wrong with them

Survival from Malignant Melanoma and the role of Mole Screening

Due to early detection and removal of malignant melanoma before it spreads, survival rates are over 75% in men and over 90% in women. However, to keep these survival rates high - and to get them higher still - it is essential to find malignant melanoma as soon as possible. this is where mole screening and early excision can be life-saving.