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Melanoma Skin Cancer Versus Mole from a Memphis Dermatologist

George Woodbury
10 minutes ago
4 min read

by George R. Woodbury Jr. M.D. (05/10/2025)

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury couseling a patient about Skin Cancer and Melanoma — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury Jr. in his Cordova TN office

Skin Cancer including Melanoma takes the lives of upwards of 20,000 Americans every year. That’s about one person every 26 minutes. The good news is that early detection leads to early treatment. Let’s take a look at What is Melanoma, at https://www.rheumderm.com/basal-cell-skin-cancer https://www.rheumderm.com/basal-cell-skin-cancer Symptoms, and at the abcde Melanoma Warning Signs, my perspective being that of a Board-certified Memphis Dermatologist in practice in Cordova TN since 1993, because early detection of Skin Cancer definitely saves lives.

Dermatologists often detect Melanoma by doing a Skin Cancer Screening to check for suspicious growths and moles — Dermatologist doing a Skin Cancer Screening

First Fact: you’ve got to look for Skin Cancer to detect Skin Cancer. Dermatologists like myself have long known that many a Malignant Melanoma is first spotted by a concerned family member who inspects loved ones, detecting a changing growth or mole then getting the patient to the prompt attention of a Dermatologist. So to spot a suspicious growth early, you really do need to get your family members pretty much completely undressed, at least once a month, for a home inspection, because ….

Melanoma often occurs on men's backs and women's legs — Couple doing their own Skin Cancer and Melanoma screening

Second Fact: Skin Cancer occurs occur on all parts of the body, the most common location for Melanoma for women being the upper leg, and for men being the back, but significant lesions occur on any part of the body.

Melanoma often has a dark Color and an irregular Border — Photo of a Melanoma from a patient's forehead

Years ago, we Dermatologists taught that certain people being “high risk” for skin cancer: redheads, blondes, those who freckle easily, or those who love the sun or who have a history of severe sunburns, or who use UV rays at tanning parlors. “Low risk” people were those who routinely wear sunscreen, avoid the sun and tanning salon bulbs, or who tan easily, but really everyone’s at risk of skin cancer. Bob Marley was an Afro-Caribbean Reggae singer who dies of Melanoma at the age of 35 – developing from a spot on his toe.

Melanoma occurs in people in their teens, twenties and thrties so really no one is immune to it — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury counsels a patient about Melanoma

Third Fact: Skin Cancer affects more than just senior citizens. In fact, the median age for development of Melanoma is 52 years old. That means that half of the people developing Melanoma are younger than 52. The youngest patient whom I as a Memphis Dermatologist have diagnosed with Melanoma over the last 33 years was a fifth grader: 10 years old! So don’t forget to inspect your kids. Data shows that several thousand people under the age of 20 develop Melanoma in the U.S. each year, including several hundred below the age of 12.

Melanoma showing a dark Color and likely also an enlarging Diameter — A classic Melanoma with Color variability and an irregular Border

Fourth Fact: Know the A, B, C, D, E warning signs for Skin Cancer, also called the abcde melanoma signs. These are rules of thumb for recognizing significant lesions or growths, first described by Dr. Al Kopf and Dr. Darrell Rigel of New York University’s Department of Dermatology:

A stands for Asymmetry: one half of the lesion does not match the other half.

B stands for Border: a jagged border, perhaps like the coast of Maine, rather than of Florida.

C stands for Color change: different hues of brown or black within the lesion, or one mole that’s a darker color than the person’s other moles.

D stands for an increasing Diameter of the lesion.

E stands for Evolving: if the lesion is changing, it’s best to bring it to the attention of a Dermatologist.

Melanoma and Skin Cancer can occur in young people especially if they love the Sun or Tanning Parlors — Corodva Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury talking with a patient about Skin Cancer and Melanoma

We know what action to take for suspicious moles or growths: if caught early, generally a simple removal, or “excision” of the lesion under local anesthetic is curative. If the lesion turns out to be a precancerous lesion – such as a high-risk atypical mole – or a full-fledged skin cancer – a Dermatologic Surgeon like myself often tries to ensure that the lesion is completely out – by doing what’s called a “reexcision.”

Malignant Melanoma can affect young people in their twenties — Scarlet Akins on her wedding day - diagnosed with Melanoma when in her mid twenties

For more helpful tips and photos of melanoma, go to the Skin Cancer Foundation website: skincancer.org. And my own Memphis Dermatology practice sponsored a short Youtube movie on Melanoma about a beautiful young lady named Scarlet Akins, a 28-year-old woman studying to be a teacher at Ole Miss who discovered a changing spot on her knee when she was about two months from delivering her daughter: “Understanding the Melanoma Crisis: Scarlet’s Story.”

Dermatologists are doctors (MDs or DOs) of the Skin, the Hair, and the Nails — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury counseling a patient about Skin Cancer and Melanoma

I have practiced as a Memphis Dermatologist these last 31 years is with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, Cordova, TN (1-901-753-0168; wwwRheumderm.com). You can find a “Best Dermatologist Near Me” by going to the American Academy of Dermatology web site, AAD.org, then simply plugging your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab.