May 7 Is Melanoma Monday
According to the National Cancer Institute, melanoma is
a form of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes (the cells that make the pigment melanin). Melanoma usually begins in a mole.
It’s more common in women than in men and in those with fair skin compared with those with darker skin, but anyone can develop melanoma. Here are some tips for checking yourself, courtesy of DermaDoctor.com:
While the American Academy of Dermatology doesn’t expect the general public to be home dermatologists, there are 5 signs to know that can save your life. These are the official ABCD´s (and now I´d like to unofficially add an E) of melanoma.
A: Asymmetry. The mole is not completely even in appearance.
B: Border. The margins should be even and smooth, without ratty or projecting edges.
C: Circumference. The mole should be nice and round, without jagged or sharp edges
D: Diameter. The size of the mole should not be more than 6mm measured across the mole. This is the size of a pencil eraser.
E: Evolving (changes) - Any changes over time in size, shape, symptoms (itching, tenderness), surface (bleeding, scaling, inflammation), and shades of color.Other signs to pay close attention to include rapid mole growth, formation of a sore, and itching or bleeding within the mole.
Keep an eye on any moles you have, and visit your dermatologist immediately if you see any changes in your mole. And be sure to avoid unprotected sun exposure (including tanning beds — ick!). Your best bet is to slather up with at least SPF 15 every day, sunny or overcast, summer or winter, and avoid direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest.
Do you have any skin cancer experiences? Leave a comment with your story and any advice you’d like to share!
Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King
Tags: dermatologist, Health, melanoma, Melanoma-Monday, mole, Prevention, skin, Skin Care, skin-cancer, SPF, sunscreen, woman, women, Womens-Health.gif)
5 opinions for May 7 Is Melanoma Monday
Brian
May 7, 2007 at 11:40 pm
More recently physicians have recognized the importance of moles that are new or getting larger in predicting high risk lesions. They have now added E for enlargement to the criteria and many recommend following the ABCDE’s. Having reliable information on whether a mole is changing increases the specificity of the skin exam and could therefore reduce the over-diagnosis of suspicious lesions.
Although dermatologists almost always ask if you have any new or changing moles most people cannot accurately answer that question (particularly those with numerous moles and the greatest risk). One way to approach this problem for people at high risk is to use Total Body Photography to document the moles on your body. However, this is an expensive procedure (often costing $400-$600) that most insurance providers will not cover.
There is now an inexpensive software program that allows people to use their own digital cameras at home to take their own body images at different time intervals (maximizing privacy). The images can be scaled and aligned and compared using a personal computer to allow for the efficient recognition of new or growing moles. This software was developed from funding provided by the National Cancer Institute and can be obtained by going to the website http://www.dermalert.com
Kristen King
May 16, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Thanks for sharing this resource, Brian!
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