Be aware of the signs of skin cancer; do a self exam
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Monday, May 7, is Melanoma Monday, a day focused on raising awareness of the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and on average, one person dies of melanoma every hour.
However, when detected early, skin cancer, including melanoma, is highly treatable.
Since research shows that about half of melanomas are self-detected, the American Academy of Dermatology's 2018 SPOT Skin Cancer campaign is encouraging everyone to be a "Skin Cancer Hero" by taking steps to prevent skin cancer and detect it early, when it's most treatable.
The campaign aims to save lives by teaching the public how to protect their skin from the sun, perform a skin self-exam, identify the warning signs of melanoma, and find free SPOTme skin cancer screenings in their area.
You can increase your chances of spotting skin cancer early by looking for the ABCDEs of melanoma:
• A for asymmetry
• B for border irregularity
• C for varying color
• D for diameter, typically greater than the size of a pencil eraser
• E for evolving, or changing in size, shape or color over time
If you notice any new or suspicious spots on your skin, or any spots that are changing, itching or bleeding, make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist.
To protect your skin and reduce your risk of skin cancer, the AAD recommends seeking shade, wearing protective clothing, and generously applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
To learn more about skin cancer detection and prevention, or to find a free SPOTme skin cancer screening, visit SpotSkinCancer.org.
Skin cancer survivors know firsthand that the disease is most treatable when detected early, so they're more likely to be vigilant about skin exams - and new research shows that such vigilance pays off.
After studying more than 900 cases of melanoma reported through the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, researchers found that men with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer were less likely to die of melanoma than those without such history.
The research, led by Jiali Han, PhD, a professor and chair of epidemiology at the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health in Indianapolis, was published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
"Our results highlight the impact of early detection on skin cancer survival," says board-certified dermatologist Steven T. Chen, MD, MPH, FAAD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School in Boston and a co-author of the JAADstudy.
"Because people who have been diagnosed with skin cancer are more likely to see a dermatologist for regular skin exams, any future skin cancers they may develop are more likely to be caught early, when they're most treatable," he said.
"Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, killing one person every hour, so it's great that NMSC survivors understand the importance of early detection," says board-certified dermatologist Suzanne M. Olbricht, MD, FAAD, president of the American Academyof Dermatology.
"However, regular skin self-exams are a habit that everyone, regardless of medical history, should adopt," she added. "While the five-year survival rate for people whose melanoma is detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is 99 percent, the five-year survival rates for regional and distant stage melanomas are only 63 percent and 20 percent, respectively."
In conjunction with Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May, the AAD has released a new public service advertisement, "Caught It," which encourages men over 50 to be aware of changes on their skin so they can detect skin cancer early, when it's most treatable.
"Men over 50 have an increased risk of developing melanoma, so we hope this PSA reminds them to keep a close eye on their skin," Dr. Olbricht says. "Furthermore, we encourage everyone, regardless of age, race or gender, to perform regular skin self-exams and see a board-certified dermatologist if they notice any new or suspicious spots, or any spots that are changing, itching or bleeding."