 color have an increased risk of developing melanoma. Additionally, those who have a family history of the disease or have ever had skin melanoma or other skin cancer are at greater risk.
This skin cancer generally appears suddenly as a new dark spot or may be a mole that is changing. Moles that are asymmetric, irregular with multiple colors and the size of a pencil eraser may be worrisome for melanoma. In addition growths that change noticeably in size or have irregularities in shape and color could be melanomas. It is important to check your skin from head to toe regularly for lesions that have the ABCDEs of melanoma symptoms.
ABCDE of Melanoma:
A = Asymmetrical (one side is not the mirror of the other)
B = Border is irregular (not oval or circular)
C = Colors are multiple (red, brown, tan, black)
D = Diameter is larger than 6mm (pencil eraser size)
E = Evolving and changing over time for a new or an old mole.
See Mole Mapping
Skin Cancer Treatment in Portland
Curettage and Electrodessication (C & D) for Skin Cancer
The skin cancer is scraped off with a scalpel and a curette. The procedure is repeated a three times to ensure that all cancer cells are removed. C & D has almost the same cure rate as excising or cutting out the skin cancer.
Excisional Surgery for Skin Cancer
Removal of the entire skin cancer along with a surrounding border of apparently normal skin. The typical “normal skin” margin is around 5mm. The incision is closed with sutures and the growth is sent to the lab to verify that all the cancerous cells were removed. MOHS surgery is a surgical treatment that is used to treat skin cancers on the face.
Skin Cancer Prevention in Portland
Most skin cancers result from too much sun (UVA and UVB) exposure. The ultraviolet A (UVA) rays can cause premature wrinkling, brown age spots while the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays cause sunburns. Both types of radiation, UVA and UVB, are harmful and can cause skin cancer. It is essential to protect your skin from these damaging rays in order to prevent skin cancer. Not only do sunburns increase skin cancer, a tan is a sign of sun damage and will increase your risk of skin cancer.
Sun protection includes sunscreen but more importantly wearing a hat, sunglasses, protective clothing and looking for shade to avoid the sun are the best sun protection measures. Every day you should be applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 to your face. New FDA rules require sunscreen manufactures to have both a UVA and UVB sunscreen in their product.
Annual Skin Checks:
It is important to do self-examinations and become with your skin and the pattern of your moles. Also, get annual skin checks especially if you have a personal history or a family history of skin cancer, multiple sunburns and/or very fair skin. Mole mapping may be helpful in monitoring your moles.
Actinic Keratosis (Pre Skin Cancer)
Actinic keratosis (AK) is the most common type of precancerous skin lesion. An actinic keratosis is evidence that sun damage has occurred and that the individual is at greater risk of developing skin cancer. Actinic keratosis normally occur on the skin that has had the most sun damage like the face, lips, ears, scalp, neck, back of the hands, shoulders, forearms and back. When an actinic keratosis develops on the lip, they are called Actinic Cheilitis. Actinic keratosis usually appear as small crusty, scaly bumps ranging in size from 1 mm to 1 inch. They are dry and rough to the touch and can be raw or sensitive. If actinic keratosis are treated early, they can almost always be completely removed before turning into skin cancer. However, if left untreated, actinic keratosis may develop into squamous cell carcinoma.
Precancerous Skin Treatment
Liquid nitrogen is applied to the lesion to freeze it off.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
A topical agent, Levulan, is applied to the pre-skin cancer (AK’s) and the skin around it for 1 – 2 hours the treated skin is exposed to Blu light that activates the Levulan and selectively destroys AKs while causing minimal damage to the surro