Simple mole could lead to skin cancer

Throughout the summer, many of us have heard warnings about skin cancer but decide the information really does not apply to us.

That's how I used to feel.

Then I noticed a small mole on my upper right thigh. It was dark brown and it seemed to be getting darker. Every morning I would think about having it checked.

Finally I made an appointment at Leone Dermatology Center in Bloomingdale. I met with Dr. Bharati Chittineni, better known as "Dr. C." She gave me a full body check looking everywhere, even between my toes.

She agreed that the mole on my thigh did look suspicious, and quickly removed it, tidying up the incision with a few stitches.

She then looked intently at some tiny red raised bumps on my right shoulder. I had never noticed these. They blended right in with my freckles. Dr. C. explained that the raised red bumps could simply be dry skin, but they might be basal cell carcinoma.

This type of cancer, unlike melanoma, rarely metastasizes to other body parts but it can cause bone and nerve damage if left untreated.

Dr. C. recommended some lotion for the bumps and told me to come back the following week to have the stitches removed in my thigh.

The dermatology exam went quickly, even with the mole removal, but the thought of skin cancer nagged at me.

As a fair-skinned, light-eyed person who easily burns, I am a prime candidate for skin cancer. My odds for skin cancer go up even further since I was severely sunburned many times as a child and teenager.

Dr. C. called to tell me the mole was "severely atypical," but not melanoma. I will need additional minor surgery to remove tissue that had surrounded the mole. If I had chosen to ignore this mole, it would have become much more dangerous, possibly spreading cancer throughout my body.

When I went back the following week to see Dr. C., the small red bumps remained. They were biopsied and later diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma. Not as serious as a melanoma, but they do need to be removed.

Dr. C. says everyone needs to pay attention to their skin. Dark skin is not a guarantee against melanoma because it can appear on your palms, under your nails, or even on the soles of your feet.

Any changing mole should be examined by a professional. If you notice scaliness, oozing, bleeding, itchiness or pain it is time for a check up. A normal mole should be smaller in size than a pencil eraser, symmetrical with even edges, and even coloring.

You may already know that most skin cancers are caused by too much ultraviolet rays, but did you know even tanning beds can cause skin cancer?

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is the most prevalent of all types of cancers. The academy estimates that every year 7,700 Americans will die from melanoma.

For those of you who, like me, ignored those skin cancer warnings -- it is time for change.

Wear suntan lotion, avoid the mid-day sun, cover up when possible, and put on your sunglasses and a hat. Make the time to go visit your dermatologist. The doctor's visit will go quickly and you will have peace of mind.

For details, visit the American Cancer Society's Web site, www.cancer.org, or the American Academy of Dermatology's site, www.aad.org.