Melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. If it spreads (metastasizes) to the internal organs, it can be life- threatening. But in its early stage, it is almost 100 percent curable.
Risks
- Melanoma may be triggered by intense, intermittent sun exposure. The number of cases has more than tripled in the past 20 years. This is due to people engaging in more outdoor activities, often wearing less clothing. Worse yet, more than a million Americans visit tanning salons every day, and the ultraviolet A and B rays emitted are extremely harmful.
- Heredity plays a large part in melanoma, with the risk being greatest if a close relative (mother, father, siblings or children) has had a melanoma.
Prevention
While you cannot change inherited traits, you can protect yourself from the sun with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen with and SPF of 15 or greater. Seek the shade and stay out of the sun as much as possible from 10 am to 4 pm.
Melanoma may suddenly appear without warning, but it can also develop from or near and existing mole.
Moles, brown spots and growths on the skin are usually harmless, but not always. The first signs can appear in one or mole of these moles, making it important to know your skin very well.
Half of all melanoma patients have unusual-looking atypical moles, or dysplastic nevi. Be sure to not skip a skin examination if you have atypical moles or have a personal and/or family history of melanoma. Examine your skin head-to-toe every month and see your doctor every year for a professional skin exam.
The Melanoma Alphabet
The first five letters of the alphabet are a guide to the early warning signs of melanoma.
BENIGN
A
stands for ASYMMETRY
- If you draw a line through the middle, the two sides will match, meaning it is symmetrical
MALIGNANT
- If you draw a line through this mole, the two halves will not match, meaning it is asymmetrical, a warning sign for melanoma
B
stands for BORDER
- A benign mole has smooth, even borders
- The borders of an early melanoma tend to be uneven. The edges may be scalloped or notched.
C
for
COLOR
- Most benign moles are all one color - often a single shade of brown
- Having a variety of colors is another warning signal. A number of different shades of brown, tan or black could appear. A melanoma may also become red, white or blue.
D
for DIAMETER
- Benign moles usually have a
smaller diameter than malignant ones
- Melanomas usually are larger in diameter than the size of the eraser on your pencil (1/4 inch or 6mm), but they may sometimes be smaller when first detected.
E
for EVOLVING
or changing
- Common, benign moles look the same over time. Be on the alert when a mole starts to evolve or change in any way
- When a mole is evolving, see a doctor. Any change -- in shape, size, color, elevation, or another trait, or any new symptom such as bleeding, itching or crusting -- points to danger.
**Used with permission: The Skin Cancer Foundation