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NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS that people who have more than 11 moles on one arm could have a higher than average risk of developing skin cancer or melanoma.
The study, carried out by the researchers at King’s College London, used data collected from 3,592 female twins in the UK over eight years.
It found that if a person has more than 100 moles on their body this indicates five times the normal risk of developing skin cancer.
About 20% to 40% of melanoma cases are thought to arise from pre-existing moles.
Each year, more than 700 cases of melanoma are diagnosed in Ireland, but the Irish Cancer Society says this number is likely to “greatly increase in future years“.
The study, funded by the Wellcome Trust, used female and male participants to identify the most useful ‘proxy’ site for a full body mole count as well as the cut-off number of moles that can be used to predict those at the highest risk of developing skin cancer.
Counting moles on the right arm was found to be a good indicator of total moles on the body, making it easier for GPs to identify those with an increased risk of developing cancer.
‘Significant impact’
Scientists found that the count of moles on the right arm was most predictive of the total number on the whole body. The area above the right elbow was particularly predictive of the total body count of moles. The legs were also strongly associated with the total count, as well as the back area in males.
Simone Ribero, of the Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, was the study’s lead author.
“The findings could have a significant impact for primary care, allowing GPs to more accurately estimate the total number of moles in a patient extremely quickly via an easily accessible body part. This would mean that more patients at risk of melanoma can be identified and monitored,” she said.
The study was published in the British Journal of Dermatology.
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Surely most Irish indigenous folk have more than 11 moles per arm?
I have 14 on my left arm and 12 on my right.
I love every single one of them.
Lily, if any of them are raised or have become itchy or changed shape – get them checked out straight away. My husband only has 5 moles, one on his chest directly over his heart, one on his neck and 3 on his back, nearly 21 years ago he went for a medical for a new job and the young doc asked him about the one on his chest and if it had changed, it had. Doc removed it and the results were positive, had it not been diagnosed he would have been dead 6 months later, it really can be that serious.
I had one that changed shape due to pregnancy (it got stretched and ended up lopsided been like that for 16 years), one on my back gets its head ripped by my bra, so occasionally bleeds. One on my side has a darker dot in the middle and is asymmetrical, but it’s been like that for 20 odd years. So far all good :)
The police have a mole – they should get that checked
Say it out louth
Seems insane to have 11 moles on your arm and not get it checked one way or another
How many IRA moles does one need before checking them out?
I’ve only 10.
Sorted.
Weelll me f*cked then.
have your say