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When you inspect moles, pay special attention to their sizes, shapes, edges, and color. A handy way to remember these features is to think of the A, B, C, and D of skin cancer-asymmetry, border, color, and diameter.
People at high risk of developing melanoma are those who have:
When you inspect moles, pay special attention to their sizes, shapes, edges, and color. A handy way to remember these features is to think of the A, B, C, and D of skin cancer-asymmetry, border, color, and diameter.
Some forms of early malignant melanoma are asymmetrical, meaning that a line drawn through the middle will not create matching halves. Moles are round and symmetrical. | The borders of early melanomas are frequentlyuneven, often containing scalloped or notched edges. Common moles have smooth, even borders. |
Different shades of brown or black are often the first sign of a malignant melanoma. Common moles usually have a single shade of brown. | Common moles are usualy less than 6 mm in diameter (1/4 in.), the size of a pencil eraser. Early melanomas tend to be larger than 6 mm. |
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