Q: If I have a mole, do I have cancer?

Answer:

While some moles are potentially cancerous, others are harmless. New moles can appear on your skin at any age, and the ones you already have may change over time. It’s important to keep track of them all with your doctor or a grownup.

At home, you can check moles for the ABCDEs. If any of the traits describes your mole, have your doctor take a look as soon as possible.

• A is for asymmetry. When you draw an imaginary line down the middle, the two halves do not match.
• B is for border. The edges look irregular and not smooth.
• C is for color. The mole has uneven or multiple colors like brown, black, pink, red, white or blue.
• D is for diameter. The mole is bigger than a pencil eraser.
• E is for elevation. The mole feels raised or uneven.

Keep an eye out for crusted, swollen, red or irritated moles. Also let your doctor know about moles that look or feel different, itch or hurt.

Carol Hahn, MD

Activity:

Look up the definition of the word “traits.” Using today’s Herald-Sun, find an article in the Healthy Living section about a disease. Make a list of all the traits of that disease.

People have traits too. Find an article about a person that you admire and make a list of their good traits. What good traits do you have? Do you have any bad traits? If so, how can you change them?