Would You Know Skin Cancer If You Saw It?

Skin cancer is no joke.  It is estimated that there will be more skin cancers in 2009 than all other types of cancer combined.  Recovery and cure rely on early diagnosis and treatment.

Diagnosis can come sooner if you're aware that you may be at risk for skin cancer.  While anyone can develop skin cancer, there are risk factors that increase your chances.

Beyond knowing the risk factors, you should know the signs of skin cancer.  A mnemonic called "ABCDE" was created to help people recognize melanomas and other skin cancers in their early stages.  "A" stands for asymmetry, "B" stands for irregular borders, "C" stands for variation in color in the same lesion, "D"stands for diameter larger than a pencil eraser (6 mm), and "E" stands for evolving lesions, which are characterized by change.  This can be a change in symmetry, borders, shape, color, diameter, or change in symptoms over time.  However, evolving lesions may lack significant asymmetry, irregular borders, color variations, and be smaller than 6 mm, but represent a non healing lesion.

Moles and suspicious lesions that fulfill the ABCDE criteria can be biopsied to confirm diagnosis.  Early diagnosis allows adequate treatment and cure and identifies benign lesions that require no further treatment.  

Don't forget that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of repair.  Be safe in the sun.  Adequate sunscreen use with broad spectrum UVB/UVA products, especially with micronized zinc oxide such as Rx Systems PF Facial Moisturizer SPF 35, and sun avoidance during peak UV hours can reduce the chances of skin cancer.  I, along with the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society, advocate the early detection and treatment of skin cancers.