By: Lauren Lewis
May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in a lifetime. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer with 3.3 million people being diagnosed annually. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer that develops from unrepaired DNA damage. The cancerous growths form on skin cells from ultraviolet radiation from the sun or from tanning beds. Every year in the US it is estimated that 10,130 people die from melanoma and 76,380 people will be diagnosed with melanoma. Heredity does play a role in melanoma; if a first-degree relative has a history of melanoma you have a 50 percent greater chance of developing this disease than people who do not have a family history of the disease. If a cell is referred to as malignant that means it is cancerous.
The ABCDEs of detecting melanoma are guidelines for self-examinations.
There are many steps you can take in preventing the growth of skin cancer and melanoma. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using sunscreen daily of SPF 15 or higher. Seeking the shade from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, avoiding tanning beds, covering your skin while outside and not getting burnt when in the sunlight are all preventative measures that can be taken. Self-examinations every month from head-to-toe and seeing a professional once a year are also tips that can help detect melanoma.
References:
American Cancer Society. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/skincancer/index.
The Skin Cancer Foundation. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information.
- A- Asymmetry: The first guideline is asymmetry, meaning, if a mole is not symmetrical that it could be a warning sign for melanoma.
- B-Border: Border is the second guideline. Borders of an early melanoma mole tend to be uneven and scalloped or notched.
- C- Color: Next, is the color of the mole, a variety of different shades of brown or black could be another warning sign for melanoma.
- D- Diameter: The diameter of a mole should be no larger than the eraser on a pencil or it may be malignant.
- E- Evolving: When moles start evolving is when you need to visit a doctor. Any changes in size, shape, color, elevation, or any new symptoms such as bleeding points to danger.
There are many steps you can take in preventing the growth of skin cancer and melanoma. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using sunscreen daily of SPF 15 or higher. Seeking the shade from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, avoiding tanning beds, covering your skin while outside and not getting burnt when in the sunlight are all preventative measures that can be taken. Self-examinations every month from head-to-toe and seeing a professional once a year are also tips that can help detect melanoma.
References:
American Cancer Society. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/skincancer/index.
The Skin Cancer Foundation. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information.