Is it skin Cancer?

One of the wonderful things about Raleigh is that it’s just a few hours away from the sands of the Carolina coast.  Summer just doesn’t seem complete without a trip to the Beaufort waterfront or kayaking along the shores of Roanoke Island. Fortunately, many of our patients are aware of the importance of sunscreen and limiting sun exposure. However, many are less certain about what makes an area of skin “suspicious.” One of the most common questions we receive is, “How can I tell if it is skin cancer or just a mole?”

It’s a good question and an important one: skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S., and one in 34 Americans have a lifetime risk of developing melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. This is one of the reasons it is so important to have a yearly skin cancer screening.

We always tell patients that they should be wary of any changes in a mole’s appearance, or in any new bumps that are scratchy, itchy, or have a scaly appearance.  Another good tip is to follow the “ABCD Rule” when evaluating a questionable area:

A STANDS FOR ASYMMETRY

Is the mole even, or is one half different from the other?

B STANDS FOR BORDER

Are the edges uneven or blurry?

C STANDS FOR COLOR

Normal moles should have an even color. If the color has uneven shades of brown, black, or tan, you should speak with your doctor.

D STANDS FOR DIAMETER

An area may be suspicious if it is greater than 6 millimeters across.

Did you know that you can also get skin cancer on areas of your body that are not exposed to the sun? This is one reason that it is so important to have an annual skin cancer screening as a part of your yearly physical. Often, a simple biopsy is all it takes to determine if an area is cancerous or not, and we can perform the biopsy in our office.

Or course, just because the summer is over doesn’t mean that you can back off on the sunscreen. It’s possible to get skin damage from the sun through the year and even on cloudy or overcast days. Read more information on choosing the right sunscreen by clicking here.

If you’d like to see how much you know about sun safety, you may want to try this short quiz from the American Cancer Society by clicking here. If you have any questions or concerns, please ask us, and call our office if you’d like to schedule an annual skin cancer screening.