Skin Cancer Detection
The more time it takes to identify skin cancer, the harder and more difficult treatment becomes. Accordingly, we help you identify skin cancer as early as possible to make treatment easier and more effective. Nearly all cases are curable if they are diagnosed and treated early enough, but in order to stop skin cancer, it has to be spotted on time. Unlike other forms of cancer, skin cancer is easy to detect because it develops outside of the body where you can see it. While skin cancer is easier to detect, it is still vital to schedule skin exams with a certified dermatologist and also partake in at-home examinations. It cannot be stressed enough that early detection can save lives. Knowing what to look for when you perform an at-home examination will give you the power to catch it early on, thus making it easier to treat. Without the proper knowledge, your skin cancer could become dangerous, and potentially deadly. If you happen to find skin cancer, call Colorado Skin Surgery & Dermatology for skin cancer biopsies, skin cancer treatment, and skin cancer prevention.
What to Look For
Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer, but that doesn’t mean that people always know what to look for. Keeping an eye out for the following will help you catch your skin cancer early on, making it easier to treat. If you find yourself looking at something on your skin that you don’t think was there before, and the internet is telling you something alarming, then schedule an appointment with our Board Certified Dermatologists today.
A good rule-of-thumb is to follow the ABCDE rule, which includes some of the common signs of melanoma, the deadliest forms of skin cancer.
- Asymmetry - Unlike moles or freckles, which are usually symmetrical in their shape, skin cancer is uneven in shape, meaning that one side of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
- Border - Another sign in skin cancer detection is looking at the border of the mark. Look for edges that are jagged, notched, blurred, or irregular rather than smooth.
- Color - Color is not the same all over the skin cancer, and may include mixed colors shades of brown, black, or tan, with patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
- Diameter - Melanoma can vary in size, but keep an eye out for a spot that is larger than ¼ inch across. Remember that skin cancer can still be smaller than this, however.
- Evolving - Maybe one of the most telltale signs of skin cancer is a mark that is evolving, or changing in shape, size, and color. If there is a mark on your body that you are sure used to look different, then it is better to get it checked out by a professional.
How to Perform a Self-Exam
If you happen to notice a spot that alarms, then it is very important that you schedule an appointment with a dermatologist. While performing your self-exam, it is important to examine your body in a full-length mirror so you can have full view of any potential skin cancer spots. Look at your underarms, forearms, and palms very closely. Look at your legs, including the back of your legs, as well as the spaces between your toes and on the soles of your feet. Using a small, handheld mirror, examine your back, neck, scalp and buttocks. Part any hair for a closer look. It is important to remember that skin cancer can look different, and may not even fit the descriptions provided above. So, in this case, keep an eye out for:
- Any new spots
- Any spots that don’t look like other spots on your body
- Any sore that doesn’t heal
- Itching , pain, or tenderness around the spot
- Changes on the surface of a mole, like oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a lump or bump
Skin Exams
Skin examinations are an important part of finding skin cancers. Identifying pre-cancerous lesions and skin cancers early allows for easier treatment. Full body skin examinations and medical photography (skin mapping) are our most powerful tools in skin cancer detection. Personal factors including history of skin cancers, age, family history of skin cancer, and the number of skin lesions determine how often screening is needed. If the mark on your skin looks like it could be a sign of cancer, then we will call for a skin biopsy to make a diagnosis.
Biopsies
Skin biopsies are an in-office procedure where a small sample of skin is taken to be examined and tested. Skin biopsies are a relatively simple way to identify skin cancers and to decide if further treatment is needed for a concerning spot. After the skin sample is examined under a microscope and it is determined that it contains cancer cells, then you will be diagnosed and you will begin treatment. Again, the easier this is done, the better the chances of preventing the disease from spreading.
Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCCs)
Basal cell carcinomas are abnormal and uncontrolled growths that rise from the epidermis. They are slow-growing and usually appear as smooth, pink bumps with a pearly sheen that later crusts, ulcerates, and bleeds. Commonly, they appear on sun-exposed parts of the body, like the head, neck, face, ears, scalp, shoulders, back, and hands. BCCs are caused by the combination of intermittent and intense exposure, or cumulative and long-term exposure to UV radiation from the sun. It is the most common form of skin cancer and affects more than 4 million people in the United States. It can be destructive and can even spread, especially if it is not treated early on. When performing an at-home examination, look for the following:L
- Raised reddish patches that might be itchy
- Small, red, pink, translucent, shiny, pearly pumps that have blue, brown or black areas
- Open sores that aren’t healing, or have healed but are now open again
- Flat, firm, pale, or yellow areas that are similar to that of a scar
Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCCs)
Squamous cell carcinoma is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells arising from the squamous cells in the outermost layer of the epidermis. Similarly to BCCs, SCCs are found in sun-exposed parts of the body like the ears, face, hands, scalp, and neck where the skin reveals signs of sun damage like wrinkles and age spots. Cumulative and long-term exposure to UV radiation can contribute to the production of most SCCs, making it the second most common form of skin cancer. When performing an at-home examination, look for the following:
- Rough or scaly red patches that may crust and bleed
- Wart-like growths
- Raised growths or lumps that have a lower area in the center
Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC)
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive skin cancer that appears as firm, painless lesions or nodules on a sun-exposed area, like on the eyelids or around the head and neck. MCCs are associated with a virus called the Merkel cell polyomavirus, and begin in Merkel cells at the base of the epidermis. Contrasted to BCCs and SCCs, MCCs develop on sun-exposed areas in fair-skin individuals over the age of 50. There is a higher risk of recurring and spreading throughout the body, so it is absolutely crucial to detect this skin cancer early on.
Skin cancer isn’t going to get itself checked — that’s up to you. Any spot in your body that looks like it could be skin cancer just might be, making it crucial for you to schedule a skin exam with your dermatologist. At Colorado Skin Surgery & Dermatology, our Board Certified Dermatologists are experts in skin cancer detection, treatment, and prevention. To schedule an appointment, contact us today.
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Skin Cancer
Patients often ask, “What can I do to protect myself from skin cancer?” Unfortunately, your skin’s sun damage cannot be completely reversed. However, several precautions can be taken to reduce your risk of developing skin cancers.
COSMETIC
It is important to remember that, in both men and women, good-looking skin is usually healthy skin. You will look better after our cosmetic procedures, but more importantly, our goal is that your skin will also be healthier.
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