Moles & melanomas
Skin cancers such as melanomas are not common on the feet but the possibility of them occurring should be taken seriously. Any unusual bump or lump or pigmented area should be checked especially if it is growing , changing or has any of the ABCDE characteristics below.
- Asymmetry – one side of the lesion doesn’t match the other.
- Borders – Borders look, uneven, or ragged.
- Colour – There may be more than one colour in an uneven distribution
- Diameter – The lesion is wider than the diameter of a pencil (greater than 6mm).
- Evolving –The lesion may be changing size, shape and colour or start bleeding or growing hairs
Skin cancers on the feet often go unnoticed meaning that when they are picked up they may have spread and be more difficult to cure. You can photograph any moles with a ruler beside them so you can compare to see if they are changing.