screening for moles

[BobbyBobBob]

Hi

I believe their is the opportunity to have moles screened to see if any are cancerous, if you have a substantial amount on your body?

Does anybody know how much this costs and how you go about doing it?

Its actually for my wife who has had a few removed lready, but she has that many that its quite difficult to check them all. I made her come to the doctors with me to have them checked and she said just keep an eye on them, they seem to look ok. I get concerened as she is the type of person that likes to tan in the sun. Although she has dark skin and never burns and she's not that concerened about them.

I feel like a pain in the a**e keep nagging her to look after them when in the sun. I put sunblock on the bigger ones for her as they are on her back and she puts about factor 8 to 6 on her body when on holiday.

I obviously take pics of them to check every so often but I would quite like to check out this mole screening thing for peace of mind, if its an affordable price.

Any Info would be appreciated.

Thanks

[BobbyBobBob]

This is in UK!

[Sqad]

I am not at all sure what you are talking about..........my fault perhaps because i may have misunderstood your post.

The only "screening test" for skin "moles" that i know of is excision biopsy.

Have i missed your point?

[pauln90]

A recent "Embarrassing Bodies" tv programme had advice re moles I've copied the link maybe this will give you more information about what changes to look for


http://www.channel4em...nditions/skin-cancer/

[BobbyBobBob]

Thanks for the answers. Squd, I'm not really sure how to describe it myself. I just heard somebody say that if you have a lot of moles on your body there is an operation, for want of a better word, that is basically a piece of machinery that scans the moles on your body and alerts you of any cancerous moles. ( I assume) I did actually see them use a device that did a similar thing on embarrassing bodies and it gave a result there and then.

I've got the basic idea of what to look for and how to check but like I say as there are so many this thing might be easier. It's just a matter of whether it exists and how much it costs.

Thanks

[Sqad]

Bobby....sorry....I have never heard of such a screening device.

To get this melanoma problem in perspective, of all the cancer deaths, malignant melanoma deaths constitutes less than 1%....it is not that common.

I don't believe that the sun plays any part or at most, a minor part in the development of malignant moles.......my opinion.

Just watch the signs that I am sure you already know......change in size, colour, shape and of course ...bleeding.

[ladyalex]

Interested in your answer about the sun and malignancy ,sqad. Reflects my own thinking as two close family members have had malignant melanomas removed over the last 5 years or so. Neither of them ever sunbathes or even goes out much and both had the melanomas round about their knees which they never expose even on the warmest of days.
We seem to be in a minority, though as they were both thoroughly warmed about sunscreen and covering up.

[Sqad]

ladyalex.....LOL...yes, we may be in the minority, but I am used to that on AB

The medical world is deeply divided over the effects of sun and malignant melanoma, including some notable Dermatologists.

[Prudie]

Bobby do you not think worrying so much makes life of little quality? Did she have the previous ones removed for cosmetic reasons or were they suspicious? I would say, if you were concerned, that I thought any factor less than 15 had little or no benefir so if you're that concerned up the number.