The ABCDEs of Melanoma
Summer is nearly here. Beach, sand, water, and… of course, sun. By now you should know well enough to use sunscreen and limit your exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays. But did you also know that it is also important to schedule an annual exam with your doctor to check for changes to your skin?
“Detecting melanoma early greatly improves the outcome and prognosis for one of the most deadly and preventable cancers,” said Steven Q. Wang, M.D., Program Director of Dermatologic Oncology at Hoag Family Cancer Institute.
To improve diagnosis, Hoag recently became the first hospital in California to offer the VECTRA WB360 whole-body 3D imaging system, which allows doctors to map and monitor skin lesions and diseases of the skin within seconds.
Before being checked out by innovative tech, what can you check for at home?
“We call them the ABCDEs of melanoma,” Dr. Wang said.
Asymmetry. “Looking at the mole on your skin, imagine a line cutting through the center of it. If both sides of the mole are not equal, the mole is considered asymmetrical and should be examined by a specialist,” Dr. Wang said. |
Border. Normal moles have clearly-defined borders. Irregular, blurred or hard-to-define borders may be compromised and should be seen by a doctor.
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Color. Looking at the moles on your skin, you will notice that most are consistent in color. Melanomas may contain different shades of color, including unusual colors like red and blue. |
Diameter. If your mole becomes larger than a pencil eraser, have it examined by a specialist. |
Evolving. New moles or moles that have changed in shape, size or color over time are a red flag and should be seen by a dermatologist as soon as possible. |
“While more than two people die of skin cancer every hour in the United States, the disease is actually curable if caught early,” Dr. Wang said. “If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your doctor today.” Schedule an appointment today at hoag.org. |