Could YOUR birthmark be cancer? Checking is as easy as ABCDE: Simple guide doctors use to detect melanoma – after Sarah Ferguson’s shock diagnosis

By Liam On Jan 22, 2024

Sarah Ferguson revealed last night that she is battling skin cancer.

The Duchess of YorkThe shocking revelation comes just months after she underwent surgery for breast cancer.

Prince Andrew’s 64-year-old ex-wife Sarah had several moles removed during reconstructive surgery following her mastectomy in June.

One was later identified as cancer.

Following her diagnosis with malignant melanoma – the fifth most common form of cancer in Britain – Sarah urged fans to ‘be diligent’ and check their moles.

About 16,000 Britons are diagnosed with melanoma every year. It is usually caused by exposure to UV light from the sun and artificial tanning beds.

Melanoma can start as a new mole, or in a mole you already have.

Here, MailOnline reveals the simple ABCDE checklist doctors use to detect melanoma…

Sarah Ferguson has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Pictured: The Duchess of York at the Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church

Sarah Ferguson pictured with her ex-husband Prince Andrew and Maria Laura Salinas at Royal Ascot in June 2019

A – asymmetrical

This refers to the symmetry of your birthmark.

If you look for moles that are uneven or irregular in shape, you may notice an early sign of melanoma.

That’s because, unlike normal moles, which are usually round with smooth edges, melanomas are often not symmetrical.

According to the NHS, they can have two different shaped halves and uneven edges.

If a mole stands out and looks different from your other moles, it is advisable to have it checked by your doctor.

B – border

This refers to the shape of the edges of your birthmark.

Melanomas are also more likely to have irregular borders or faint or jagged edges, says Cancer Research UK.

By comparison, Macmillan says that common moles “usually have a clear, smooth edge.”

They can occur on any part of the body.

In men, melanomas are most commonly found on the back and in women the legs are the most common site, the charity says.

Sarah Ferguson pictured with her daughters Princess Beatrice (left) and Princess Eugenie (right) at the Masterpiece Midsummer Party at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in 2013

C color

This refers to the color of your birthmark.

A mole of different shades and colors may be a melanoma.

Melanomas can have different shades, from a mix of brown and black to red, pink, white or even a blue tint, says Macmillan.

However, normal moles are usually just shades of brown.

Some people with pale skin or blond hair get melanomas that are red and pink, but not brown, Macmillan says.

The charity adds that this is called amelanotic melanoma and is rare compared to other types of melanoma.

D diameter

This refers to the size of your mole and how wide it is.

Typically, moles are only the size of the end of a pencil or smaller. But if you see a mole that is more than 6mm wide, it could be a melanoma.

Macmillan says that people with many moles, including some larger than 5mm, are likely to have them for years without any change.

‘It is recommended that people with many moles or larger moles have them checked by a dermatologist,’ the charity says. ‘This is important if you have had changes in moles in the past.’

E – evolving

This refers to how your birthmark may be evolving and changing.

Most harmless moles stay the same shape over time, but melanomas often grow larger and change shape and even color.

The change in shape may involve the area becoming raised or domed, Macmillan says. If the mole is flat, it may stay that way but will widen, he adds.

It’s not just the size and shape you need to pay attention to, as melanomas can also become swollen and painful.

This can cause them to itch or tingle, bleed and look crusty, the NHS warns.

Some melanomas develop from existing moles and grow on what was previously normal skin, says Cancer Research UK.

So it’s important to keep an eye on changes and watch for any ‘normal moles’ to itch, swell or become irritated.

But the sooner a melanoma is discovered, the easier it is to treat. So it’s important to see your GP as soon as possible if you have these skin changes, warns Cancer Research UK.

What is malignant melanoma?

Malignant melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that starts in melanocytes, cells in the top layer of the skin that produce melanin, which gives the skin its color.

Although it is less common than other types of skin cancer, it is more dangerous because it can spread more quickly to other organs if not treated early.

Symptoms

A new mole or a change in an existing mole can be signs of melanoma.

Melanomas can occur anywhere on your body, but are more common in areas that are frequently exposed to the sun.

Some rarer types can affect the eyes, soles of the feet, palms of the hands, or genitals.

Check your skin for unusual changes. Use a mirror or ask a partner or friend to check areas you can’t see.

In particular, look for:

Birthmarks with an uneven shape or edges
Moles with a mix of colors
Large moles – melanomas are often more than 6 mm wide
Birthmarks that change size, shape or color over time

Causes

Ultraviolet (UV) light is the most common cause of melanoma. It comes from the sun and is used in tanning beds.

Melanoma is more common in older people, but younger people can also get it.

You are also more likely to develop melanoma if you:

Pale skin that burns easily in the sun
Red or blond hair
Blue or green eyes
A large number of freckles or moles
Have had a lot of sun exposure and have been burned many times in the past
Lots of use of sunbeds
A history of skin cancer in your family or you have previously had skin cancer

If you have black or brown skin, you are less likely to get melanoma, but you can still get it.

Prevention

Staying safe in the sun is the best way to reduce the risk of skin cancer (both melanoma and non-melanoma).

Do the following:

Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day (11am to 3pm in Britain)
Keep your arms and legs covered and wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that protect against ultraviolet (UV) rays
Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and at least 4-star UVA protection – make sure you reapply regularly
Make sure babies and children are protected from the sun; their skin is much more sensitive than the skin of adults

Therapy

Melanoma skin cancer can often be treated. The treatment you receive depends on where the disease is located, whether the disease has spread, and your general health.

Surgery is the main treatment for melanoma. Sometimes radiotherapy, medications and chemotherapy are also used.

Surgery may involve removing the melanoma and an area of healthy skin around it, swollen lymph nodes if the cancer has spread to them, and other parts of the body if the cancer has spread to them.

If a large portion of skin needs to be removed, a skin graft may be necessary, where relatives can be taken from another part of the body to cover the area where the melanoma was.

Radiation therapy is sometimes used to reduce the size of large melanomas and to control and relieve symptoms.

Targeted medications and immotherapy are used to treat melanomas that cannot be treated surgically or that have spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Chemotherapy, which kills cancer cells, is sometimes used to treat advanced melanoma when it has spread to another part of the body. It doesn’t work as well as other treatments, but can be used if you can’t get it.

How dangerous is it?

General for people with melanoma in England:

almost all people (nearly 100%) survive their melanoma for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed
about 90 in 100 people (about 90%) will survive their melanoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis
more than 85 in 100 people (more than 85%) will survive their melanoma for 10 years or more after they are diagnosed

Sources: NHS, the Skin Cancer Foundation and Cancer Research UK