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Screening means checking for disease in people who don’t have any symptoms. Not every type of cancer has guidelines for recommendation of screening – melanoma does. You have a better chance of surviving melanoma if doctors diagnose and treat it early. “Early” means finding the melanoma when it is thin. A melanoma that is thick (penetrating deeper in the skin) or bleeding is more worrisome than a thin melanoma. The best way to find melanoma early is to have regular skin check-ups from a healthcare provider who is trained to inspect skin. The American Cancer Society recommends skin check-ups for people 20 to 40 years old every 3 years. People who are older than 40 should have a skin check-up once a year. Even though these skin check-ups help increase the chances of finding melanoma early, they don’t guarantee that you won’t get melanoma or die from it, especially if it’s found after you have symptoms.
What Does Melanoma Detection Involve?
Asymmetry. This means that the 2 halves of the mole don’t look the same.
Border. With melanoma, the edges of a mole are sometimes blurred or ragged.
Color. Melanomas sometimes have uneven colors. Some have different shades of black, brown, red, or blue.
Diameter. This is a measure of the width or length of the melanoma. The diameter of a melanoma is usually greater than that of a pencil eraser.
Also consider the “E” in the equation--evolving. It is important to look for changes in moles over time. If you see any changes, make an appointment with you doctor to have the mole checked right away. Not all melanomas look the same. Some
These are other symptoms to pay close attention to.
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Moles that are tender and itch
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Moles that bleed or have a crusty top
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Moles that become raised and larger in diameter
You should also learn how to do a skin self-exam.