Melanoma and Skin Cancer

If you haven’t had a skin cancer screening lately, it would definitely be beneficial to do so. In fact, it might even save your life. There are various types of skin cancer. Melanoma is the most serious, although it is not the most common type of skin cancer.

Melanoma begins in skin cells that produce pigment. In the event that the cells become abnormal and begin to grow uncontrollably they attack tissues in surrounding areas, resulting in cancer. The good news is that while melanoma is quite serious, even deadly, it can be cured it if it is caught early enough. The most important key to curing melanoma is that is caught before it metastasizes and spreads to the lymph system or bones and organs. When melanoma is caught when it affects the skin only, there is a good chance of successful treatment.

Therefore, it is important to learn to detect the early warning signs of melanoma. These signs can include any change in shape, size or color of a mole or any type of skin growth. This can include a birthmark as well. These type of changes can occur anywhere from one month to even two years.

Other symptoms of this type of skin cancer can also include a change in one half of the skin growth or mole that does not match the other half. Moles and skin growth should remain symmetrical or there could be a problem.

You should also periodically inspect any skin growths to insure that the edges are not blurred, notched or ragged in any way. In the event that there is any border irregularity, you should see your physician as soon as possible.

Also look to make sure that color is uniform. If you should see any changes in the shades of pigmentation, this could be a sign of skin cancer.

Finally don’t forget to look for changes in size that exceed 2/10 of an inch or 6 mm. Another way you can look at this is that the skin growth should be no later than the size of an eraser at the end of a pencil. Any time a skin growth grows in size, see your doctor immediately.

You should also make sure that you stay on top of periodic skin checks and screenings if you fall into a high risk group. Your risk for melanoma can increase if you have been exposes to ultraviolet radiation at any time in the past, exposed to significant amounts of sun, even in childhood, as well as working outside and recreational activities. Research also now indicates that ultraviolet exposure at tanning beds can be equally as risky.

If you’ve had a history of sunburns, during childhood or any other time, your risk level will also be increased. Any type of skin cancer or previous melanoma will also place you in a higher risk category.

Other risk categories include a family history of skin cancer or melanoma, a count of fifty or more moles on your body, extensive freckles on the upper back, an impaired immune system and the presence of moles since birth.

 
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