Question

The patient is having a mole removed that has changed appearance. What does the nurse teach the patient about the rationale for this surgical procedure?

1. It is to prevent malignancy.
2. It is to alleviate symptoms.
3. It is to cure the malignancy.
4. It is to provide cosmetic improvement.

Answer 1

The nurse teaches the patient that the mole is being removed to prevent malignancy. Removal of a suspicious mole can be preemptive or therapeutic if malignancy is present, leading to a better chance of cure and vital early cancer detection.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rationale for removing a mole that has changed in appearance is primarily to prevent malignancy. Moles that show signs of asymmetry, irregular borders, or varied shades of color, especially brown or black, could indicate the early stages of melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer. Early detection and treatment of skin cancer increase the likelihood of a cure. Therefore, the procedure to remove a changed mole could either be preemptive to prevent cancer or therapeutic if malignancy is already present.

Dermatologists perform mole removals to diagnose and treat skin conditions. If cancer is suspected, they may refer patients to an oncologist for further treatment. Due to the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers, it is crucial to monitor changes in skin lesions, as delineated by the ABCDE mnemonic provided by the National Cancer Institute.