Medical Questions » Skin Cancer Questions » Question No. 902
| Question: | I have a black, hairy mole on my cheek. It has been there as long as I can remember and I' m now 45. Could it be dangerous? |
| Answer: | There is only one way to find out, and that is to have it checked by a doctor, because any black mole could be serious.
As a general rule, hairy moles and those that have not changed in appearance for many years are unlikely to be a cancer—but you never really know unless a professional has a look. It is far better to be reassured now that all is well, than to leave it too late to get the bad news, by which stage effective treatment may be impossible.
Even the nastiest malignant melanomas (the worst form of skin cancer) start as a small mole that can be easily removed, but once the cancer has spread to the internal organs, cure is impossible. And remember, nearly all skin cancers are due to sun exposure.
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