Skin Cancer?

[Sir g-zuz]

Im a white male, age 21.
I have dark skin, and i have never been sunburnt in my life. I never over do the sun, nor do i ever go tanning. I live in Minnesota, where the sun is not intense.
Is it still possible to get skin cancer? I have a suspicious growth,, in the groin area.. I cant tell if it is a mole,, or what it is.. Im going to the doctor,, but i just want to hear what some of you might think.

[Observer412]

Hope this ABCDE description helps:

Asymmetry
If you draw a line through this mole, the two halves will not match.

Border
The borders of an early melanoma tend to be uneven. The edges may be scalloped or notched.
melanoma picture.jpg


Color
Having a variety of colors is another warning signal. A number of different shades of brown, tan or black could appear. A melanoma may also become red, blue or some other color.

Diameter
Melanomas usually are larger in diameter than the size of the eraser on your pencil (1/4 inch or 6 mm), but they may sometimes be smaller when first detected.
melanoma picture.jpg

Evolving
Any change — in size, shape, color, elevation, or another trait, or any new symptom such as bleeding, itching or crusting — points to danger.

[Beth]

its possible, but from what you told me i wouldnt be worried about it. Just make sure you go to the doctor though to find out for sure. And even if it is skin cancer, i think they just remove it..

[cecielscott]

Having lived in Texas ... then in Hawaii, I tried to make it a point to avoid being in direct sunlight whenever possible.

Long story short, while living in Wisconsin about 5 years ago, I went to a dermatologist to have a mole removed (for purely cosmetic reasons).

As part of his initial exam (he was duty-bound to do a full-body skin examination)... he discovered a melanoma on my back! I had to have it surgically removed, and everyone I know was shocked that I had skin cancer because I avoid sunlight.

Go to a dermatologist because he/she will be the only one who can make an accurate diagnosis.