To Your Health

May is skin cancer awareness month

Luis Scheker, M.D.

Dermatology
Providence Medical Group-Bridgeport
503-216-0700

The skin is the body’s largest organ. It helps control body temperature and stores water, fat and vitamin D. Your skin also protects you from heat, injury and infection. However, your skin needs protection too. Skin cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the skin. The best defense against skin cancer is protection from sunlight and ultraviolet light.

About skin cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, affecting more than a million Americans each year. It can be cured if diagnosed and treated early. When allowed to progress, however, skin cancer can be very serious.

The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Of these three, basal cell carcinoma is the most common and melanoma is the least common – and the most dangerous.

Anyone can get skin cancer, but your risk is higher for melanoma if you are older than 20 and have any of the following:

• A fair complexion (blond or red hair, fair skin, freckles, blue eyes)
• Exposure to natural sunlight or ultraviolet light (such as tanning booths) over long periods of time
• Several large or many small moles
• A family history of unusual moles
• A family or personal history of melanoma

What do I do to detect skin cancer?

Do a self-screening and talk to your doctor about whether you should have a medical screening. If your doctor suggests you have a screening test, that doesn’t necessarily mean he or she thinks you have cancer. Screening is looking for cancer before you have any symptoms. When abnormal tissue or a cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread. Screening tests are often given when you have no cancer symptoms but there still might be warning signs.

What am I looking for?

Look for these warning signs of skin cancer:

• A skin growth that increases in size and appears pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black or multicolored
• A mole, birthmark, beauty mark or any brown spot that:
• • Changes color
  • Increases in size or thickness
  • Changes in texture
  • Is irregular in outline
  • Is bigger than 6mm or ¼ inch, the size of a pencil eraser
  • Appears after age 21
• A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab, erode or bleed
• An open sore that does not heal within three weeks

If you find something, don’t ignore it or hope it will go away. Skin cancers may be painless, but they can be dangerous all the same. If you notice one or more of the warning signs, see a doctor right away. You can always contact your Providence Medical Group clinic to discuss any concerns you have about skin cancer.

www.providence.org/pmg