The word cancer can lodge a pit in your stomach, and unfortunately in this day in age is far too common. Although hearing the word “cancer” can be scary, when it comes to skin cancer specifically, early detection can be the gateway to combating it.
This is because skin cancer can typically be noticed by the human eye… meaning you or someone close to you may notice a new lesion or change in a lesion on your body. It is also because of its location on the body. Since melanoma is on your skin (the surface of your body), it makes it easier for doctors to treat the early stages of it (by cutting it out).
Skin cancer cases are rising
When it comes to skin cancer, there are many things you can do to protect yourself from the sun. But the fact of the matter is, UV rays are everywhere and it’s almost impossible to hide from them completely. With that being said, it has been noted that the reason for the recent increase in cases is due to the popularity of tanning, and tanning beds, which have only recently (in the past 5-10 years), been culturally shifted and viewed as something bad. So many of the boomers that made tanning so popular in the past, are now facing skin cancer scares, or battling its reality.
It can spread to other parts of the body
Many people tend to think that skin cancer only affects the skin. But did you know that just like any other cancer there are stages that depict its spread? If melanoma goes untreated, it is known to spread to the lymph nodes, which can cause a domino effect on one’s health since the lymph nodes are in charge of the immune system.
Early detection can save you!
Most cancers that internally affect your body, can be hard to detect. It isn’t uncommon for cancer to be detected at a later stage due to symptoms only starting later on. When it comes to skin cancer, it is the most common cancer to stop in its tracks because of the ability to detect it early.
To help with early detection, Doctors have created methods and protocols so those with moles can easily detect concerns of melanoma.
The different methods and protocols are:
- The ABCDE method (which can be done at home). This method helps detect abnormalities of moles on the skin. ABCDE stands for:
- Asymmetry
- Border irregularity
- Colour
- Diameter >6
- Evolving
- The ugly duckling method (which can be noticed at home or by a doctor). This method refers to when a mole doesn’t look like the rest of the moles on your body/ nearby. This method is especially useful for those with many moles on their body, as they have something to compare it to.
- Mole Mapping (which is performed by a doctor). Mole mapping is a technique used by skin care physicians like Dr. Shehla Ebrahim, to examine moles that seem unusual in shape, size, colour or texture. The goal of the examination is to rule out any signs of melanoma.
Early detection of melanoma in Vancouver, BC
If you are in Vancouver, BC or the surrounding area, Dr. Shehla Ebrahim at Dr. E Dermatology would love to meet you for mole mapping and “ugly duckling” detection. To book a consultation CLICK HERE.
In the meantime, feel free to check out this blog post on the importance of mole mapping for more information!