CNJ+ May 2024

MAY IS SKIN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH MOLES TO WORRY ABOUT

You are very lucky that you have detected the mole; many people have them in places that are not easy to spot, espe cially on your own body. It is very important to be vigilant about your skin year round. Self-examination is good, but a full head-to-toe once a month is even better. The earlier you find any suspicious lesions, the easier it is to be completely cured. This is why an annual or semi-annual whole body check by a dermatologist is so essential to your health. As a general rule, take note of any new moles or growths and track any existing growths that begin to grow or change. Be suspicious of lesions that change, itch, bleed, or don’t heal. There are various cancers; melanomas or non-melano ma skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. On average, one American dies from melanoma every hour, according to the American Cancer Society. Over the

past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. Everyone is at risk for melanoma, but how great depends on a number of factors: sun exposure, number of moles on the skin, skin type and family history. Interestingly, while people with darker color skin may have a lower risk for skin cancer than others, it still poses a threat and is often found at a more advanced and deadly stage in this population. African Americans and Latinos are more likely to die from melanoma than Cauca sians possibly due to late detection of the disease.

Concentrating on melanoma, because it is the deadliest form of skin can cer, medicine has developed two specific strategies for early recognition of the disease: the ABCDEs and the Ugly Duckling sign. Moles, brown spots and growths on the skin are typically harmless although not always. If you have more than 100 moles, it puts you at greater risk for melanoma. The Ugly duckling concept is the analysis that nevus on the same person tends to resemble the others, and that invasive melanoma often deviates from this nevus pattern.

Look for the Ugly Duckling and ABCDE signs of melanoma, and if you see one or more, make an appoint ment with a physician immediately. A- Asymmetry If you draw a line through a mole and the two halves do not match, meaning it’s asymmetrical, it’s a warning sign for melanoma. B- Border The borders of an early melanoma tend to be jagged. The edges may be scalloped or notched. C - Color A variation of colors is another warning signal. D- Diameter Melanomas usually are larger in diameter than the eraser on your pencil tip but may be smaller when first detected. E- Evolving When a mole starts to evolve or change in any way see a doctor. Size, shape, color, elevation, or any new symptom points to danger. It is recommended to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to 50 (Sun protection factor) 20 to 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and to re-apply it every two hours if you are swimming, or sweating. SPF applies only to UVB protection so look for sunscreens with BROAD spectrum protection that protects against UVA and UVB. Use sun protective cloth ing. Avoid tanning parlors and the strongest sun rays between 10-am to 4pm. Use a moisturizer with SPF on a daily basis.

22

CNJ+ | FORMERLY THE MILLSTONE TIMES

MAY 2024