Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, but fortunately it’s also the most preventable.
May is Skin Cancer Prevention Month. It is a time to raise awareness about the disease that will see almost five million cases come to light in the United States this year.
Dr. Anne-Battiste Barnwell-Grayson, general surgeon, says the first word that comes to mind when she thinks about skin cancer is “deadly.”
“Melanoma is the most virulent and aggressive of the three major types of skin cancer and has the poorest prognosis for advanced forms of the disease,” she said. “Individuals are strongly encouraged to have all skin lesions examined by a healthcare professional; particularly those that are pigmented. However, some melanomas have less pigment than normal. This is why it is best to recommend that any skin lesion that appears suddenly, increases in size, is easily irritated, and/or has a dark or irregular appearance should be examined and/or removed for complete analysis.”
To help spread awareness and make the melanoma warning signs memorable, the signs of a possible malignant mole can be abbreviated to the mnemonic: ABCDE
A – Asymmetry: is the mole asymmetrical? If you imagine a line drawn across the center of the mole, if the two halves do not match then they are considered asymmetrical. If you have an asymmetrical mole seek medical assistance.
B – Border: does the border or edge of the mole look uneven? If so, please seek medical advice.
C – Color: is the mole one uniform color? If there are several colors or shades of a color within a mole this could be a warning sign. Seek medical assistance.
D – Diameter: how big is the mole? Melanomas often have a diameter of six millimetres.
E – Evolving: has the mole changed in shape, size or color? Have you noticed any other changes such as bleeding, itching or puss coming from the mole? These may be signs of a malignant mole so seek medical assistance.
