X
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
EnglishFilipino
Product GuideSign in
  • Building a BakuNation
  • Becoming a Parent
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Pregnancy
    • Delivery
    • Losing a Baby
    • Project Sidekicks
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler Years
    • Preschool Age
    • Kids
    • Preteen & Teen
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • News
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Health & Wellness
    • Diseases & Injuries
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • K-12
    • Special Education Needs
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Celebrities
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Home
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • Wellness
    • Money
  • Become a VIP
  • COVID-19
  • Press Room
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023

Breast implants help fight child’s giant moles from turning into cancer

4 min read

When it comes to saving lives of little children, breast implants is the last thing that you’d think of. But for Dylan Little, it is the very thing that has helped keep him alive and cancer-free.

The tot was born with giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus, a condition so rare that it affects one in every 20,000 people.

As a result of his condition, his body is covered in moles both huge and small. The largest mole stretched from above his ear to his bottom.

Breast Implants Help Fight Childs Giant Moles From Turning Into Cancer

Photo credit: Mirror UK

“When Dylan was born, more than 80% of his body was covered in moles—his back was entirely black and bleeding, his face, arms and legs were all covered in moles,” his mom Kara told Mirror.

“The largest one was from above his ears all the way down to his bottom, so it went all the way down around his shoulders, belly and entire backside.

“As well hundreds of satellites where the moles ranged from half the size of a dollar to the dot of a pen.

Worried that their son’s moles will turn into cancer, Kara and her partner Nikki decided to take medical action.

To combat the posibilityof his moles turning into cancer, the skin was stretched by putting expanders under the skin filled with saline—a process similar to breast implants.

Three months later, the expanders are taken out and the expanded skin is used to cover areas where the nevus has been removed.

“They put them inside the body under the clearer sections and over three months fill them up with saline until they grow and triple in size, like a water balloon inside him,” Kara said.

“They then use the excess skin to cover the area of nevus that they have removed.

“We’ve taken off around 50%, we’ve gone for the delicate areas around the neck, shoulders and upper back.”

Thus far, the child from Atlanta, Georgia has undergone a total of 26 surgeries and more than 50% of the affected areas have been removed.

“He has surgery every three to six months, dependent on which area of the body—if it’s on the lower back we wait six months, while having another surgery to work on other parts.”

Photo credit: Mirror UK

Photo credit: Mirror UK

There will come a time when Dylan will run out of good skin, but according to his parents as long as majority of the affected skin is removed, the chances of them turning into cancer are lessened.

But that’s not all.

On top of his regular surgeries, Dylan also has to undergo MRI scans twice a year to monitor whether or not the cancerous growths have moved in his brain or spine where he has melanocyte deposits.

“We don’t know what his future holds at this point, he could have days, weeks, years or decades—which is why we are doing everything we can to keep him with us.”

Find out more a out Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus on the next page!

What is Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus?

The congenital melanocytic nevus is a type of melanocytic nevus (or mole) found in infants at birth.

This type of birthmark occurs in an estimated 1% of infants worldwide, and it is located in the area of the head and neck 15% of the time.

Partner Stories
A mom’s responsibility: Getting vaccinated for her children
A mom’s responsibility: Getting vaccinated for her children
5 Tips To Challenge Your Child For His All-Around Development
5 Tips To Challenge Your Child For His All-Around Development
3 Game Changing Baby Products that’s Now Available
3 Game Changing Baby Products that’s Now Available
BATANG MATIBAY: How this OFW's 12-year-old Son Shines at School and at Home
BATANG MATIBAY: How this OFW's 12-year-old Son Shines at School and at Home

Signs and symptoms

The congenital melanocytic nevus appears as a circumscribed, light brown to black patch or plaque, potentially very heterogeneous in consistency, covering any size surface area and any part of the body.

Large and especially giant congenital nevi are at higher risk for malignancy degeneration into melanoma.

Because of the premalignant potential, it is an acceptable clinical practice to remove congenital nevi electively in all patients and relieve the nevocytic overload.

READ: Baby with rare genetic condition is born without a nose

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below or check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful parenting news and tips . Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from theAsianparent.com Philippines!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

James Martinez

Become a Contributor

  • Home
  • /
  • Behavior
  • /
  • Breast implants help fight child’s giant moles from turning into cancer
Share:
  • How to count menstrual cycle? 4 phases of menstrual cycle

    How to count menstrual cycle? 4 phases of menstrual cycle

  • Baby skin: How to maintain smoother skin for babies?

    Baby skin: How to maintain smoother skin for babies?

  • PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

    PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

  • How to count menstrual cycle? 4 phases of menstrual cycle

    How to count menstrual cycle? 4 phases of menstrual cycle

  • Baby skin: How to maintain smoother skin for babies?

    Baby skin: How to maintain smoother skin for babies?

  • PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

    PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Baby Names
    • Delivery
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Advice for Parenting Kids
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Local celebs
    • Celebrities
    • Money
    • News
  • FAMILY & HOME
    • Couples
    • Weekend & Holiday Guide
    • Health
  • Building a BakuNation
    • More
      • TAP Community
      • Advertise With Us
      • Contact Us
      • Become a Contributor


    • Singapore flag Singapore
    • Thailand flag Thailand
    • Indonesia flag Indonesia
    • Philippines flag Philippines
    • Malaysia flag Malaysia
    • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
    • India flag India
    • Vietnam flag Vietnam
    • Australia flag Australia
    • Japan flag Japan
    • Nigeria flag Nigeria
    • Kenya flag Kenya
    © Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
    About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
    • Tools
    • Articles
    • Feed
    • Poll

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    theAsianparent heart icon
    Nais naming magpadala ng notification sa'yo tungkol sa latest news at update sa pag-aalaga ng baby at kanilang kalusugan.