Protecting your skin and identifying signs of cancer
As temperatures rise and summer begins, many people are rushing outdoors to enjoy the weather. W hile the sun can give us a nice tan, it also contributes to more than 3.5 million cases of nonmelanoma cancer diagnosed each year — more than prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer combined.
There are three types of skin cancer : melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), all of which typically are brought on by sun exposure.
The most worrisome of the three is melanoma, as it spreads more quickly and can reach lymph nodes, spreading cancer to other parts of the body. BCC and SCC are more likely to only cause local damage. If they get deep enough, they can be painful, ulcerate and be deforming. However, BCC and SCC typically are detected and removed early enough that they don't become painful and aren't expected to spread.
You can perform home checks to monitor your skin and look for changes that may be indications of skin cancer. Us e the following ABCDE's of skin cancer to search for suspicious spots , and report any problematic areas to your physician or dermatologist for further analysis.
A – Asymmetry
Benign moles are usually symmetrical, while malignant ones have odd or asymmetrical shape s .
B – Border
Look for uneven borders. A benign mole will be smooth while malignant moles appear to be jagged or have notches around the border s .
C – Color
Variation in color is a sign of a malignant mole. A benign mole usually is a single color with consistent shading throughout.
D – Diameter
Size can be an indicator of malignancy as well. Malignant moles are usually larger than a quarter of an inch. If a mole is larger than a pencil eraser, it may be malignant and should be checked.
E – Evolving
Benign moles stay the same size over time while malignant moles evolve over time. This is why it is important t o perform self-checks routinely. Any changes should be noted and discussed with a physician.
If you notice anything suspicious , see your primary care physician or a dermatologist, although your primary care physician may ultimately refer you to a dermatologist.
If a patient is determined to have SCC or BCC, they will typically have it removed without having to see an oncologist . After the cancer is removed , the patient wi ll be scheduled for routine follow - up appointments to check for other instances of SCC or BCC.
Because melanoma is more dangerous and can spread much more rapidly, patients are typically sent to an oncologist for more aggressive treatments. Depending on how much the melanoma has spread, patients also may have local lymph nodes investigated to ensure it hasn't already spread there .
When m elanoma spreads , it will usually spread first to the nearest lymph node, which is called the sentinel node. To determine if a sentinel nod e has been reached, a dye or radioactive substance is injected into the area of the tumor to track the lymph node to which that area drains. Any affected s entinel nod e s are removed and examined under a microscope. If a sentinel node is noncancerous , the patient will have rou tine follow- up appointments scheduled . If the node contains cancer cells , the patient may need surgeries , chemo ther apy or other treatment s.
The best way to protect yourself from any type of skin can cer is to reduce your sun exposure , protect yourself with sunscreen and clothing, perform monthly self-checks , and speak with a physician if you see anything suspicious.
S elf-checks are vital to cancer prevention . T he sooner you discover skin cancer , the better. While SCC and BCC are not usually life threatening, if they get d eep enough or start spreading, much more deforming procedures are needed to treat them . If m elanoma goes undiagnosed and starts to spread to the lymph nodes , there is a much greater risk of it spreading to vital organs like the lungs, brain or liver .
Cancer can be a scary diagnosis, but by being responsible when exposed to the sun and getting in the habit of paying attention to your own skin, you lower you r risk of getting skin cancer. C atch ing it early will greatly improve your prognosis.