Melanoma Grows Not Just In Moles

This year, there were 74,000 people who were expected to be diagnosed with melanoma, but from these, almost 10,000 will die, said the National Cancer Institute. However, skin cancer doesn't grow in moles alone, said researchers earlier this month at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting.

In a study based on analyzing 2,250 people who had melanoma, the team found that non-mole melanomas were more common as well as more aggressive. "We think that there are biological differences" between mole and non-mole melanomas, which may account for variations in aggressiveness, said the lead researcher to LiveScience, according to newser.

Only between 20% to 30% of cancer occurrences are linked with moles. The "de novo" cases who have no moles would also get struck with cancer after stage 1. Any person who suffers from de novo melanomas tends to suffer from thick tumors and are also 1.6 times more likely to be afflicted with broken or uneven skin, rather than those who have mole-related melanomas.

The survivors of de novo melanomas are mostly women. Men and women with melanomas on moles have equal rates of survival. "It's very exciting to have some new questions to investigate," researchers say.

"We think that there are biological differences" between mole and non-mole melanomas, and these differences may account for the difference in aggressiveness, says the lead researcher to LiveScience.

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