I have quite a few moles on my skin. I think one of these, on my leg, is looking different over the last month or two. Could it be turning into a cancer? What should I do? What will happen?

Nearly all of us have moles somewhere on our skin and almost always these will remain perfectly benign and harmless throughout our lives. But very occasionally an ordinary mole can change and turn into a cancer - a malignant melanoma. If this does happen then it is very important that the cancerous mole is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible so it would be sensible for you to see your GP (family doctor) for a check up.

The Department of Health has recently given guidelines to GP's about people who come to them with moles or freckles which they are worried about. These give a list of changes that can be signs of a malignant melanoma developing and recommend that if any of these are present, the GP should arrange an urgent appointment with a hospital specialist (dermatologist) for further checks. The list of changes suggesting that a mole or freckle could be turning into a malignant melanoma is:

• it is getting bigger
• it is changing in shape
• it has an irregular outline
• it is changing colour
• it has a mixture of different colours
• an ulcer (a sore or raw area) has formed on its surface
• it is red or sore

Moles or freckles that have recently started to bleed or become itchy might also be turning into a cancer.

An urgent hospital appointment usually means that the specialist will see you within two weeks.

When you see the specialist they will take a full medical history and examine you. Depending on what they see they may either do a biopsy (taking away part or all of the mole or freckle to be examined under a microscope) in the clinic with a local anaesthetic, or arrange an operation, under a general anaesthetic, to take away the mole and some of the surrounding normal skin.

If a mole or freckle has become cancerous then very often an operation to remove the melanoma will cure the problem completely, but the earlier the problem is discovered and treated the better the chance of a cure, so if you are concerned don't delay, go and see your GP.

http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk

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