Mary Ellen Slape had a spot on her leg that wouldn't heal.
"It just kept coming back," said Slape, who recently had her leg checked.
Dr. Joey Manduano did a biopsy recently because it looked like basal cell carcinoma, Slape said, adding she was told it was the least serious.
Manduano may have to go back and remove tissue around it -- all the treatment that's required, though, Slape said.
As she doesn't have moles, it was only one simple spot to keep an eye on. For those who have moles, though, it's something that requires frequent checking -- especially now that summer's practically here, along with more exposure to sun.
Moles are growths on the skin -- a collection of cells that produce pigment, said Dr. James T. Phoenix with Omni Medical Group.
"In the skin world, we call them nevi," said Dr. Michelle O'Meara with Warren Clinic Family Medicine in Broken Arrow. These growths are composed of melanocytes, cells in the skin, which grow in a cluster -- "and most are benign."
Moles can be flat or raised, typically round or oval, and no larger than a pencil eraser, according to the National Cancer Institute's Web site, Cancer.gov (see tulsaworld.com/ncimole ). Their colors are usually pink, tan, brown or flesh-toned.
Most folks have between 10 and 40 moles, the NCI site said. A person may develop new moles from time to time, usually until about age 40. Many
moles begin as a small, flat spot and slowly become larger in diameter and raised. Over many years, they may flatten again, become flesh-colored and go away.
People with lighter skin tones are most susceptible to moles, Phoenix said. And sun exposure can lead to the development of more moles. Those melanocytes we mentioned a second ago produce more pigment, causing the skin to tan, or darken, according to the NCI.
"Sun exposure appears to be a stimulus for a lot of them to grow," O'Meara said. Those that pop up on sun-exposed skin are the ones to worry about.
And the more moles you have, the more possible one could develop into something serious, said Phoenix, who has noticed a resurgence in skin cancer and melanoma in people 20 and younger.
That's why it's important to know your skin, both doctors said. O'Meara recommends looking at your skin -- from head to toe, even "places where the sun doesn't shine" -- once a month or every other month.
If you notice a mole has changed color, such as growing darker, call your family physician for an appointment, Phoenix said. Same goes if the mole's shape becomes irregular -- when the border is less distinct or gets bigger.
Be sure to check between your toes, O'Meara said, and notice changes in nail color.
You should have a mole check with a physician each year, both Phoenix and O'Meara said. They're usually pretty quick -- strip down to your skivvies, check sun-exposed areas, the back, thighs. It takes a few minutes, Phoenix said.
Existing moles are not likely to progress to cancer, he continued. So don't worry about removing them, unless you want them off for cosmetic reasons. Otherwise, removal has no health benefit.
"The main thing is just monitor yourself," Phoenix said. "Don't be reluctant or hesitate to bring it to someone's attention if something seems off."
The sooner something is recognized, he concluded, the better.
Know your ABCDs
Dr. Michelle O'Meara at Warren Clinic Family Medicine in Broken Arrow offered these alphabetical precautions regarding moles:
Asymmetry. One half of the mole should look like the other half, she said. If it doesn't, have it checked.
Borders. If your mole has an irregular shape, is jagged, faded into the skin around it, has grown or changed, have it checked.
Color. If the mole has more than one color or changes color, it's suspicious.
Diameter. Moles bigger than 5 millimeters in diameter should be checked, as well.
For more about moles, visit the National Cancer Institute's Web site, tulsaworld.com/ncimole.
Jason Ashley Wright 581-8483
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