Why experts say you should never ignore a mole that appears after you hit 40 

Liz Elgar may seem overzealous when it comes to sun protection. She says, “I am the mother that you see at the beach or in the park running after her kids applying thick layers of factor 50.” 

“I apply it to myself and reapply each hour.”

Liz should be careful. In 2012, she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer — despite rarely going in the sun, never using a sunbed and always applying sunscreen.

She first noticed a small new mole in 2008

“I had just given birth to my son, and I was nursing when I saw a small mole on my chest,” Liz (48), a worker in an office, who lives with Jeff (47), a local government official. 

The mole was a malignant melanoma — the most dangerous form of skin cancer, which can quickly spread elsewhere in the body and claims more than 2,000 lives each year in the UK [File photo]

“It looked normal, and I believed it might be hormonal from pregnancy.

Due to the hormone surge, some pregnant women may be more susceptible to skin tags and moles.

Liz, who had two boys, George (16 and Francis 13 years, didn’t see the mole change in any way. She noticed an obvious change in her appearance as she dressed up for work one day in 2012.

“The mole was larger and changed from being round to jagged, asymmetrical. The mole was about the same size as a 5-pence piece, and it had many different brown shades. My stomach lurched.’

Liz visited her GP on the same day. She was referred by a dermatologist who stated that it was “probably OK,” but recommended Liz undergo testing to determine if she has cancerous cells.

A couple of weeks later the mole, along with some tissue, was surgically removed. Three weeks later she received her results.

Liz says, “I was not too concerned because it didn’t itch nor bleed so it wasn’t bad.” 

“I sat next to the consultant and she started speaking. It was the first time I’d heard anything. . . “Malignant” and I felt my heart sink.

She says, “I am the mother that you see at the park running after your children and applying thick layers of factor 50.”

The mole was a malignant melanoma — the most dangerous form of skin cancer, which can quickly spread elsewhere in the body and claims more than 2,000 lives each year in the UK.

This happens when melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for the skin’s pigment, outgrow their control and form tumours.

The cancer can start within an existing mole but more often it begins in a newer one.

“I thought instantly of my children growing-up without a mom,” she said. “Will I ever die?” What could the cure be?

According to the doctors, the outlook for the patient was much better because the stage 1B mole (one of her earliest stages) was present.

According to Dr Rachel Abbott (a Cardiff-based consultant dermatologist and spokesperson for British Skin Foundation), melanoma cases are increasing. There are about 15,400 new cases a year — 50 per cent more than a decade ago.

“That’s 42 cases per day,” Dr Abbott says.

This is believed to have been caused by the aging population and sunbed use.

The risk of melanomas is nine to ten percent due to UV radiation. However, there are other factors that can increase the likelihood of developing them, such as fair skin, moles more than 50 and early exposure to sunlight.

Rates in men have increased by 64 per cent, compared with 39 per cent in women — it’s thought men are less likely to take precautions or examine their skin for suspicious changes.

Moles can ‘appear’ in many people’s lives. This is normal according to Dr Abbott. However, it’s not unusual for moles to appear after 40.

A mole doesn’t have to itch to be melanoma. And while melanomas begin in the melanocytes — pigment cells — they are not always black or brown. They can also be skin-coloured, pink, red, purple, blue or white — and may not even start as a mole.

According to Dr Abbott, “melanoma is most often caused by normal-appearing skin.” Dr. Abbott says that melanoma causes a change in the colour of a mole. This is because melanocytes penetrate deeper into the skin and give it a blueish appearance.

Liz was given general anaesthesia after her diagnosis. She had a large border of tissue taken out and checked for cancer. Also, Liz had a sample taken from her right armpit of the closest lymph node. This is a frequent site for spread.

Liz says, “I had to wait six weeks for my results. It was worrying.” The good news is that there was no sign of cancer spreading and no need for further treatment.

According to her, she felt “elated” and was “so very fortunate.”

“I am telling this story because it is important to show people that moles can appear in a normal way or after something like pregnancy. But you shouldn’t ignore them.”