We all know it's important to wear sunscreen in order to protect
your skin. We have all heard of sun damage, and we have all gotten a
burn because we didn't take the time to protect our skin properly. Did
you know that sun exposure raises your risk for developing skin cancer?
In fact, you are most at risk during infancy and childhood. If you are
prone to skin cancer because of family history, then you should be
especially careful to make sure you are protected. Of course, even the
most cautious are still at risk, but keeping an eye on suspicious moles
can aid in melanoma detection.
You are at risk if skin cancer runs in your family. You are also at risk if you have suspicious moles. Your best bet for detection is monitoring moles for any changes. A biopsy can detect whether you have skin cancer, but not every mole is skin cancer. If you feel that you have a lot of moles, you might consider being monitored by a doctor. You can set up regular appointments to keep an eye on changes and biopsy if necessary. Your doctor will take digital images of the moles and note any symptoms such as itchiness, patient noted change, or that it just appeared. The images would be sent out for review. The next time you come back, they would know what size the mole was last, they would note any change or addition in symptoms, and they would be able to determine if biopsy is necessary.
The importance and effectiveness of early melanoma detection cannot be over-expressed. The survival rate for someone in early stages is remarkable. As the disease progresses, survival rates go down dramatically. The average age of someone diagnosed is twenty five to twenty nine years old. If you find you need treatment, the steps you'll need to take will depend on a few factors: your doctor's opinion, the stage, and where the affected skin is. For instance, if affected skin is on your face, treatment may look different from if it's on your foot.
The point, however, is early melanoma detection. Be your own advocate. Use sunscreen, get suspicious moles checked out, know family history, and protect and educate your children. Once you are seeing a doctor, be sure to keep them appraised of any changes that you notice. The good news is that if found, early survival rates are great.
You are at risk if skin cancer runs in your family. You are also at risk if you have suspicious moles. Your best bet for detection is monitoring moles for any changes. A biopsy can detect whether you have skin cancer, but not every mole is skin cancer. If you feel that you have a lot of moles, you might consider being monitored by a doctor. You can set up regular appointments to keep an eye on changes and biopsy if necessary. Your doctor will take digital images of the moles and note any symptoms such as itchiness, patient noted change, or that it just appeared. The images would be sent out for review. The next time you come back, they would know what size the mole was last, they would note any change or addition in symptoms, and they would be able to determine if biopsy is necessary.
The importance and effectiveness of early melanoma detection cannot be over-expressed. The survival rate for someone in early stages is remarkable. As the disease progresses, survival rates go down dramatically. The average age of someone diagnosed is twenty five to twenty nine years old. If you find you need treatment, the steps you'll need to take will depend on a few factors: your doctor's opinion, the stage, and where the affected skin is. For instance, if affected skin is on your face, treatment may look different from if it's on your foot.
The point, however, is early melanoma detection. Be your own advocate. Use sunscreen, get suspicious moles checked out, know family history, and protect and educate your children. Once you are seeing a doctor, be sure to keep them appraised of any changes that you notice. The good news is that if found, early survival rates are great.
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