Who, what, where, when – Jane Murray, 46 years old and from Ireland, liked to expose himself to the sun. In 2020 she noticed a small point on her arm which she describes as “a normal mole”. It was not until November 2024, following a advice from a nursing friend, that she consults: in December the exams revealed a melanoma of stadium 2, one of the most aggressive skin cancers.
Why was it serious? Because this grain of beauty, deemed trivial for four years, turned out to be clever – requiring heavy intervention to eradicate cancer cells and leaving significant physical sequelae, despite the healing announced later.
The testimony of Jane Murray and the medical course
Jane describes herself as an active person who likes to spend time outside and sunbathing as soon as he can. She says she spotted in 2020 a mole that she found safely: “A normal mole”. She did not change her solar exhibitions and used a low index sunscreen.
In November 2024, a nurse friend noticed the same mole and encouraged Jane to consult. His attending physician organizes removal as a precaution. In December, the result fell: stage 2 melanoma – a form that can be serious, as recalled by studies indicating that around 15 % of people diagnosed at stage 2 retain a life expectancy of more than five years.
To ensure complete excision, the surgical team has removed a large portion of skin and some glands from Jane, leaving an important wound requiring 77 suture points. The surgeon used a reconstructive process described as “Yin -Yang flap”, which led to an extensive scar – a reality difficult to accept for the patient upon waking.
Last April, Jane received the good news: she was healed from cancer. Since then, she has been relaying a prevention message to those around her and invites everyone not to wait in case of doubt.
What is a mole and how to identify an alert sign – the ABCDE method
A mole, or naevus, corresponds to a concentration of melanocytes – cells responsible for skin pigmentation. These cells can regroup and form spots that vary in shape, relief and color. “It’s completely normal and benign,” said dermatologist Caroline Robert. “But it happens that one of the cells constituting the beauty grain turns into a cancer cell and is at the origin of a melanoma by multiplying. Melanoma can occur from a mole but not systematically. It can also appear on a piece of normal skin without beauty.”
Even if only a specialist can make a diagnosis, the ABCDE method makes it possible to monitor the evolution of beauty grains and to identify the suspect elements:
- A – Asymmetry : A stain whose two halves do not correspond.
- B – Borders : irregular, blurred or poorly delimited contours.
- C – Color : variations in shade or the appearance of dark or multiple shades.
- D – Diameter : a size greater than 6 mm or a rapid increase deserves attention.
- E – Evolution : any recent change in shape, color or thickness must lead to consulting.
On prevention and follow -up, the dermatologist recommends concrete gestures: “I recommend that my patients photograph their beauty grains (Iskin, free application on iPhone and Android)”. She adds: “It is useless to do it often, but if each person at risk had photos of their body, this would help a lot in the diagnosis of melanoma by confirming their evolutionary character”.
If a doubt appears, do not wait years like the story of Jane illustrates it – consult your general practitioner first, then a dermatologist if necessary.