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MONDAY, Dec. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Potentially fatal skin cancers called melanomas are more likely to grow fast when they're thicker, symmetrical, elevated, have regular borders or produce symptoms, a new Australian study found.
"Rapidly growing melanomas can potentially kill in a matter of weeks," said lead researcher Dr. Wendy Liu, of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, in East Melbourne.
"They can occur in anyone, not necessarily those with large numbers of moles and freckles. In fact, they more often occur in those without large numbers of moles and freckles and elderly men. They are more often red, rather than brown and black, symmetrical, elevated and symptomatic," Liu added.
In the study, Liu's team investigated the growth rate of melanoma in 404 patients with invasive melanoma. Patients had their skin examined, and data about the moles were collected. In addition, patients were interviewed as soon as possible after diagnosis.
Patients and their families were asked to recall when they first noticed a spot on their skin from which the melanoma later developed, and when they noticed the mole had changed or become suspicious.
The researchers collected data on demographics, skin cancer risk factors, the characteristics of the tumor and who first detected the cancer -- the patient, a family member or friend, or a physician.
Using this information and the thickness of the tumor when it was removed, Liu's group was able to estimate its rate of growth.
The researchers found that about one-third of all the melanomas grew less than 0.1 millimeters per month, another one-third grew between 0.1 millimeter and 0.49 millimeters per month, and one-third grew 0.5 millimeters or more per month.
Rapid tumor growth was associated with tumor thickness, ulceration (formation of a break or sore on the skin), amelanosis (lack of pigment in the tumor), regular borders, elevation and symptoms.
Moreover, faster-growing melanomas were more often found in people 70 and older, in men, and in those with fewer moles and freckles, the researchers reported.
