4 Steps to Take If Skin Cancer Runs in Your Family
Having a relative diagnosed with skin cancer like melanoma can naturally be concerning. Read on to learn more about how that affects your risk and the steps you can take to protect yourself.
Tips for Giving Yourself a Skin Self-Exam
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer — it is diagnosed more frequently than all other kinds together. Like all cancer, the sooner it is detected and treated, the better the prognosis. Performing a skin self-exam regularly can help catch it early before it progresses.
As a complex general surgical oncologist, Dr. Trevan Fischer uses innovative surgical techniques to treat a variety of types of skin cancer at his private practice in Santa Monica, California. In addition to seeing patients, he works on advanced clinical trials at the Saint John's Cancer Institute, where he stays up-to-date on the most recent research findings and treatments.
Skin cancer
There are three main kinds of skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Several factors can contribute to the development of skin cancer, but one of the main culprits is ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sun exposure and time spent in tanning beds.
Self-exams
Anyone can get skin cancer no matter the color of their skin, so it is essential to do a self-exam once a month. Look for anything new, different, or unusual, and be sure to check even the areas of skin that are not exposed to the sun. If you do this regularly, you will become accustomed to what your skin looks like and can identify any changes.
Skin cancer can appear as a growth, bump, or spot, but it can also show up in ways you might not expect. A sore that bleeds or doesn't heal after a couple of weeks, a scaly or rough red patch that might bleed or crust, or a growth that looks like a wart could all be signs of skin cancer. Moles that change in shape, size, or color or have a strange shape or irregular border could also indicate an issue.
From head to toe
After a bath or shower is often a good time to perform a skin self-exam. Make sure you are in a well-lit room for good visibility. A full-length mirror is helpful, and you will also need a hand-held mirror for hard-to-see places (or a second person to help you).
Begin by looking at your face, ears, neck, chest, and stomach area. Women should also look under their breasts. Next, examine the tops and bottoms of your arms and the underarm areas and the tops and palms of your hands. Don't forget between your fingers and under your fingernails.
Check out the front of your legs, tops of your feet, and in between the toes and under the toenails. Using the hand-held mirror, look at the backs of your thighs, calves, and bottoms of your feet. It's helpful to do one leg at a time.
Use the hand-held mirror to look at the back of your ears, neck, upper and lower back, buttocks, and genital area. Finally, check your scalp using either a comb or hair dryer to help see through your hair down to your skin.
If you find anything that looks different or concerning, or if you are seeking treatment for an already-diagnosed skin cancer, click to book an appointment with Dr. Fischer or call our office today.
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