Do you know these 5 signs of skin cancer? Might not be a freckle

The great majority of us contend with small round spots on our skin, not so fondly called "freckles." Since I am Irish, I have more of them then I could bare to count.

One of the dangers of these pigmented spots is evolution into a dangerous skin cancer called melanoma. This deadly cancer has the ability to leave the skin and implant into the brain, lungs, liver and many other organs.

Early identification of melanoma is of utmost importance, as early removal and treatment can lengthen life span by many many years. Dermatologists, doctors for skin, have developed a five point method for classifying and detecting melanoma called the ABCDE method.

Learning your ABCDE's and identifying melanoma early can save your life or the life of someone you love.

A is for Asymmetry: Cancerous melanoma growths are usually flat and under the skin, but look irregular. Unlike normal moles which are circular or at least symmetrical.

B for Border: The edge of a cancerous mole tends to be irregular, akin to the rocky face of a mountain. Compare that to a non-cancerous mole that has a smooth even border.

C - Color: Those of us with moles or freckles can tell you that they are usually just a single color spot of brown or beige on the skin. Multiple different colors within a skin lesion is a red flag for melanoma and must be investigated further.

D - Diameter: Typical moles are small, measuring less than 6 millimeters (about half the size of a dime). A skin lesion with dimaeter greater than 6 mm is a potential sign of cancer.

E - Evolution: How has the skin lesion changed over a short period of time. Most moles are static in size, not shrinking or growing. Recent changes in the size or look of a skin lesion may be the most important indicator of melanoma.

If you fear you may have melanoma lurking within a mole, be sure to snap a photo before making your appointment to see a physician. This will help your doctor track the lesion and make a better decision for treatment.

Make sure you know your ABCDE's and visit a doctor if you start to notice any of these developments.