ABCDEs of Melanoma Skin Cancer

Skin Cancers Rise, Along With Questionable Treatments

By KATIE HAFNER and GRIFFIN PALMERNOV. 20, 2017

John Dalman had been in the waiting room at a Loxahatchee, Fla., dermatology clinic for less than 15 minutes when he turned to his wife and told her they needed to leave. Now.

“It was like a fight or flight impulse,” he said.

His face numbed for skin-cancer surgery, Mr. Dalman, 69, sat surrounded by a half-dozen other patients with bandages on their faces, scalps, necks, arms and legs. At a previous visit, a young physician assistant had taken 10 skin biopsies, which showed slow growing, nonlethal cancerous lesions. Expecting to have the lesions simply scraped off at the next visit, he had instead been told he needed surgery on many of them, as well as a full course of radiation lasting many weeks.

Read More

Skin cancer – don’t think it can happen to you? One woman’s story

 Rachel Heitmann  

 August 21, 2017

Several years ago I read an article in a magazine about skin cancer and decided to get a skin exam.  I had just finished college and didn’t really think the dermatologist was going to find anything.  To my surprise, the dermatologist found a spot she wanted to do further tests on.  I was told not to worry about it and assured it was probably nothing.  A few days later, I found out I had a spot that was malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.  Luckily it was caught really early.  After a wide incision to remove it, all margins came back clear and no further treatment was needed. The diagnosis was shocking because I never thought I would be diagnosed with something like that, but it’s a reminder that this can happen to anyone.

I would strongly encourage everyone to wear sunscreen, use hats and sun protection clothing, stay out of the sun during peak hours, get regular skin exams and check your own skin for any irregular-looking spots.  An easy way to remember what to look for is to think of it as the ABCDE’s of skin cancer.  Look for asymmetrical spots which are not the same on both sides; borders that are irregular; color such as spots that have more than one color within them; diameter, in particular spots that are bigger than a pencil eraser and evolving such as spots that are changing in shape or color.

Remember, the key is prevention and early detection.  Melanoma can spread quickly but is highly curable when caught early, making early detection extremely critical.

RACHEL HEITMANN

Rachel Heitmann has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Wisconsin – Stout. Rachel has worked at the Tennessee Department of Health for the past 12 years. Currently, Rachel is the Section Chief for the Injury Prevention and Detection section within the Tennessee Department of Health Division of Family Health and Wellness. In this position, she is responsible for the overall function of several programs including Injury Prevention, Child Fatality Review, Maternal Mortality Review, Traumatic Brain Injury and Infant Mortality Reduction
.

I Always Wear Sunscreen—And Still, I Got Skin Cancer

This article originally appeared in the May 2016 issue of SELF.

The problem started, as so many problems do, very small: a tiny patch of rough, sandpapery skin peeking through my hairline. When it didn’t disappear after two months, I visited a dermatologist—and another one, for safety. Both said it was scalp irritation. Nothing to worry about.

Still, the spot was slowly getting larger, so I showed it to Ellen Marmur, M.D., a New York City–based dermatologist. One week after performing a biopsy, she called with bad news: The spot was basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common form of skin cancer in the United States, with an estimated 2.8 million diagnoses each year.

I was speechless. As a beauty editor, I know just how dangerous UV rays can be. Even after having the biopsy, I’d assumed the results would rule out cancer—yet there it was, growing on my head. As reality sank in, I felt a little ashamed, as though I’d failed at something. But more than that, I was confused. How did I, the woman who practically bathes in SPF 30, develop skin cancer?

Read More

What Is Skin Cancer?

New post on Living Well

What is Skin Cancer? by touroinfirmary Sarah Jackson, M.D. There are two different kinds of ultraviolet radiation (UV) that comes from the sun. You probably have heard of UVA and UVB rays – both are dangerous. These rays cause premature wrinkles and increase your chances of developing skin cancer. They are always present, even when it’s cloudy. UVA rays, which pass through window glass, penetrate deeper into the dermis, the thickest layer of the skin. UVA rays can also cause suppression of the immune system, which interferes with its ability to protect you against the development and spread of skin cancer. Moreover, UVA exposure is known to lead to signs of premature aging of the skin, such as wrinkling and age spots. UVB rays are the sun’s burning rays, which are blocked by window glass and the primary cause of sunburn. A good way to remember the difference between the two rays is that UVA rays are the aging rays and UVB rays are the burning rays. Excessive exposure to both forms of UV rays can lead to the development of skin cancer. Some of the damage caused by UV rays is permanent destruction of the skin’s supporting structure – the collagen and elastic fibers, freckling, wrinkling, dilated blood vessels, suspicious skin lesions, redness, drug reactions and skin cancer. Is there a safe way to tan? What you need to know is that there is no safe way to tan. A tan is the skin’s response to injury caused by UV exposure. To protect your skin from UV damage, your body makes melanin every day. Melanin is the pigment that gives color to your skin and eyes. When your skin gets damaged by the sun’s rays, it makes more melanin to try and protect your skin from further damage. That causes the skin to change color – darken or burn. The overexposure of ultraviolet light, both natural and artificial, can result in changes to the skin’s texture such as wrinkles and age spots. Thus, tanning to improve your appearance is ultimately self-defeating. Every time you tan, you damage your skin and this damage accumulates over time. This accumulated damage, in addition to accelerating the aging process, increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Types of skin cancer There are three different types of skin cancer. The most common types are basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. However, the most deadly form of skin cancer is melanoma. Early detection and treatment are very important with all three types. Basal Cell Carcinoma Most common form of cancer worldwide Most often appears on sun-exposed areas such as the face, scalp, ears, chest, back, and legs. Most common appearance of basal cell carcinoma is that of a small dome-shaped bump that has a pearly white color. Another common sign is a sore that bleeds and heals, only to recur again. If you have already had one basal cell carcinoma, studies have shown that you are at a 40 percent risk of getting a second basal cell carcinoma within five years. Individuals who have had multiple basal cell carcinomas or other skin cancers, such as squamous cell, also are at an increased risk for melanoma. Squamous cell carcinoma Second most common skin cancer. Usually appear as crusted or scaly patches on the skin with a red, inflamed base, a growing tumor, or a non-healing ulcer. Generally found on sun-exposed areas such as the face, neck, arms, scalp, backs of the hands, and ears. Cancer can also occur on the lips, inside the mouth, on the genitalia, or anywhere on the body. If left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma can destroy much of the tissue surrounding the tumor and may result in the loss of a nose or ear, for example. Aggressive types of squamous cell carcinomas, especially those on the lips and ears, can spread to the lymph nodes. More than 700,000 new squamous cell carcinomas are diagnosed every year in the United States. However, both basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are easily treated if detected early. Melanoma The most serious form of skin cancer Characterized by the uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing cells Might appear on the skin suddenly without warning, but they also can develop on an existing mole Most frequently appear on the upper back, torso, lower legs, head and neck. It is estimated that there will be more than 137,000 new cases of melanoma each year. The best way to detect skin cancer early, when it is most treatable, is to perform a skin self-exam on a regular basis. If you are interested in a skin exam, call Audubon Dermatology at 504-895-3376 to schedule an appointment. Dr. Jackson received her medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine, where she was a member of AOA honor Medical Society. She also fulfilled her residency training at Louisiana State University Health Science Center where she served as Chief Resident in Dermatology. She is a board-certified Dermatologist with special interest and training in medical dermatology, dermatologic surgery, cosmetic dermatology and laser surgery. she is the Louisiana State Chair of the Dermatology Foundation, the largest foundation of dermatologic research in the country. Dr. Jackson lives in New Orleans, LA with her husband Konrad and their 3 children Adelaide, Henry, and Charles. touroinfirmary | May 4, 2017 at 6:21 pm | Categories: Dermatology | URL: http://wp.me/p3U9Kg-kN Comment    See all comments    Like

Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Living Well. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://livingwellblog.co/2017/05/04/skincancer-2/

Skin Protection: Touro Living Well Seminar

Sun protection is essential to skin cancer prevention. Join Dermatologist Sarah Jackson, M.D., to learn how to stay safe this summer and protect yourself from skin cancer. Also, learn more how to protect your eyes from sun rays, which can lead to vision loss and other conditions.

This event will take place in Touro's Presidents Room on the 2nd Floor of the hospital on Thursday, 5/4/2017 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Registration is required.

>> CLICK HERE to register online, or call 504-897-8500.
Parking in the Prytania and Delachaise Street garages will be validated.

ABCDEs of Melanoma Skin Cancer