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	Sharing Stories of Hope, Progress, and Answers Across Indiana and Michigan v.21, July 2008

education

Early detection and prevention of skin cancer: how to check yourself
Most people look in the mirror daily to get ready, but once a month you should be paying even closer attention to improve your chances of finding any skin cancers that might develop. A thorough self-examination of your skin is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself. Melanoma is a cancer that occurs right on the surface where you can see it, but you can't see it if you don't look.

Doctor performing skin exam Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, accounting for about half of all cancer diagnoses in the United States. The two main types are malignant melanomas and non-melanomas (basal cell and squamous cell cancers). Although less common, melanoma is far more dangerous than the latter group, accounting for 79 percent of skin cancer deaths.

First and foremost, take preventative measures daily. Use sunscreen, wear a hat, and protect your skin from too much sun exposure. Finding melanoma at an early stage is also very important. There is roughly a 95 percent cure rate for patients whose melanomas are detected at one millimeter or less in thickness, but less than 50 percent of patients survive when their cancers are detected at four millimeters or more.

Check your skin once a month in a well-lit room in front of a full-length mirror. Be sure to have a spouse, family member, or close friend help you with these exams, especially for those hard-to-see areas like the lower back.

The first time you inspect yourself, spend an adequate amount of time carefully going over the entire surface of your skin. The American Cancer Society advises you to become familiar with birthmarks, moles, and blemishes so that you will be able to identify any changes in them.

The ABCD rule is a helpful guide to signs of melanoma. Be sure to notify your doctor about any of the following signs:

A – asymmetry: Half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other half.

B – border: Edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.

C – color: The color isn’t the same all over, but may have differing shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of red, white, or blue.

D – diameter: The area is larger than six millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) or is growing larger.

Other warning signs are:

spread of pigment from the border of a spot to surrounding skin
a sore that doesn’t heal redness or a new swelling beyond the border
change in sensation (itchiness, tenderness, or pain)
change in the surface of a mole (scaly, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a bump or nodule)
a mole that looks very different from your other moles

Most people have moles and almost all moles are harmless, but it is important to examine your skin monthly and show your doctor any area that concerns you. You should also visit your doctor once a year to check for anything you may have missed. Early detection and preventative action could save your life. For more information on skin cancers and self-examination, visit www.cancer.org/sunsafety.

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