The Warning Signs of Skin Cancer (2)
The continues from The Warning Signs of Skin Cancer (1)
Know Your ABCDEs: ‘B’ is for Border
If the border or edges of the mole are ragged, blurred, or irregular, have it checked by a dermatologist. Melanoma lesions often have uneven borders.
Know Your ABCDEs: ‘C’ is for Color
A mole that does not have the same color throughout or that has shades of tan, brown, black, blue, white, or red is suspicious. Normal moles are usually a single shade of color. A mole of many shades or that has lightened or darkened should be checked by a doctor.
Know Your ABCDEs: ‘D’ is for Diameter
A mole is suspicious if the diameter is larger than the eraser of a pencil. Benign moles are usually less than 6 millimeters in diameter.
Know Your ABCDEs: ‘E’ is for Elevation
If a portion of the mole appears elevated, or raised from the skin, have it looked at by a doctor. Melanoma lesions often grow in size or change in height rapidly. A mole that is evolving—shrinking, growing larger, changing color, begins to itch or bleed—should also be checked.
Tips for Screening Moles for Cancer
Examine your skin after a shower while skin is wet. A common location for melanoma in men is on the back, and in women, the lower leg. But check your entire body for moles or suspicious spots once a month. Start at your head and work your way down. Check the “hidden” areas: between fingers and toes, the groin, soles of the feet, the backs of the knees. Check your scalp and neck for moles. Use a handheld mirror or ask a family member to help you look at these areas. Be especially suspicious of a new mole. Take a photo of moles and date it to help you monitor them for change. Pay special attention to moles if you’re a teen, pregnant, or going through menopause, times when your hormones may be surging.
How Are Moles Evaluated?
If you find a mole or spot that has any ABCDE’s of melanoma — or one that’s tender, itching, oozing, scaly, doesn’t heal or has redness or swelling beyond the mole — see a doctor. Your doctor may want to remove a tissue sample from the mole and biopsy it. If found to be cancerous, the entire mole and a rim of normal skin around it will be removed and the wound stitched closed. Additional treatment may be needed.
A Primer on Skin Cancer
Malignant melanoma, especially in the later stages, is serious and treatment is difficult. Early diagnosis and treatment can increase the survival rate. Nonmelanoma skin cancers include basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Both are common and are almost always cured when found early and treated. People who’ve had skin cancer once are at risk for getting it again; they should get a checkup at least once a year.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that usually begins in a mole. It is not as common as other types of skin cancer, but it’s the most serious and potentially deadly. Possible signs of melanoma include a change in the appearance of a mole or pigmented area. Consult a doctor if a mole changes in size, shape, or color, has irregular edges, is more than one color, is asymmetrical, or itches, oozes, or bleeds.
The Warning Signs of Skin Cancer (1)
The Warning Signs of Skin Cancer (2)
The Warning Signs of Skin Cancer (3)
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
[...] The Warning Signs of Skin Cancer (2) [...]