Promoting skin cancer awareness and prevention
As the summer months are approaching, let’s talk about skin cancer. There are three different types: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma. As a general rule, BCC and SCC are slow growing and usually not life threatening. Melanoma, on the other hand, is an aggressive form of skin cancer with a propensity to spread, or metastasize.
As a physician, I highly recommend regular (usually yearly) visits to a dermatologist for skin checks. If caught early, melanoma can be completely cured. If you are ever unsure about a mole, do not hesitate to see your doctor as soon as possible to get checked out. There are certain warning signs, called the ABCDE’s, that suggest a skin spot to be malignant melanoma as opposed to a benign mole. Early detection can save your or a loved one’s life!
A for Asymmetry: Look out for spots with irregular shapes. Normal moles usually form regular circles or ovals.
B for Border: Watch for irregular or poorly defined borders.
C for Color: Multiple shades or colors within a lesion can be a red flag.
D for Diameter: Melanoma is usually larger than 6 mm in size (but not always).
E for Evolving: Moles or spots that change over time are more likely to be cancer.
In addition to seeing your dermatologist regularly, wearing sunscreen is the single most important preventative measure that you can take to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer. Sunburn increases the risk of all three types of skin cancer (BCC, SCC and melanoma). Applying sunscreen prior to time outdoors prevents harmful ultraviolet rays from damaging your skin, thus protecting you from developing skin cancer.