ABCDE’S
If you notice one or more of the following ABCDE’s below, please speak to you health care provider.
When spotted early, melanoma has a cure rate of 85%. Check your skin monthly.

ASYMMETRY
The two halves of the mole have different shapes.

BORDER
The edge of the mole is irregular. It may look blurred, ragged, or notched. Pigment may spread into the skin around the mole.

COLOUR
The colour of the mole is uneven. The mole may have different shades of tan, brown, and black, sometimes with blue, gray, red, pink, or white.

DIAMETER
While melanomas are usually greater than 6 mm (the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, they can be smaller.

EVOLUTION
The mole has changed in the past few weeks or months. It may be itchy, scaling or bleeding.

Source: https://www.melanomanetwork.ca/melanomadetection/

Content on this page has not been checked for accuracy. The author's credentials have not been confirmed. Always use multiple peer-reviewed scholarly sources and good clinical judgement in your decision making.

The Compendium platform was created by David Kwinter, MD, CCFP(EM).

Dr. Kwinter is a Cayman Family Doctor. He runs a Family Medicine Clinic at Cayman Medical in George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.