The ABCDEs of Skin Cancer

It’s not breast cancer. It’s not prostate or colon cancer either. The most common form of cancer is skin cancer. While protecting your skin may not always be a priority, it should be as the number of skin cancer cases is on the rise with 3.3 million Americans diagnosed every year.

Family Nurse Practitioner Michelle Devern, NP-C, of Bayhealth Primary Care, Harrington, notes that oftentimes skin cancer is not thought to be a serious condition. Consequently, patients don’t monitor changes in moles or be concerned about new skin lesions that may appear. “A lot of times, we don’t realize the damage done to our skin until it’s too late,” said Devern. “Regular checks and early intervention are key to preventing serious skin complications. ” Read more

The three main skin cancers are melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Melanomas are commonly found on the facial cheeks or back in men, and on the lower extremities in women. Basal cell carcinomas are most common on sun-exposed areas such as the head and neck. Squamous cell carcinomas commonly appear on sun-exposed areas of the body such as the face, ears, neck and the back of the hands. Read more

Devern said education plays a key part in preventing these cancers, noting the ABCDEs of skin cancer as an easy-to-remember way to spot changes in an existing mole or a developing lesion. Read more

ASYMMETRY: If one half of the mole or lesion does not match the other in shape, color or texture, it is suspicious. Read more

BORDER IRREGULARITY: The edges are jagged or fuzzy. Normal lesions have a distinct, well circumscribed border. Read more

COLOR: The color pigmentation is uneven with shades of tan, brown and black present. Normal lesions should be uniformly colored. Read more

DIAMETER: The mole is greater than six millimeters in diameter and about the size of an eraser on a pencil.Read more

EVOLUTION: Monitor changes in mole size, shape and color, or if you have symptoms such as itching, burning or bleeding over time. Read more

If any of these take place, don’t wait to make an appointment with your primary care physician or dermatologist. Read more

Individuals most at risk for skin cancer are those who spend a lot of time outside, those who have fair skin and those who go to tanning beds. A common misconception is that tanning isn’t bad for your skin. “You must protect your skin,” said Devern. “It is so important to wear sunscreen regularly when you are going to be outside, even if it’s for a short period of time. Be sure to get annual skin checks and if you see anything suspicious in the meantime, schedule an appointment with your clinician.” Read more