MoleMate: More Than 68,000 Americans are Diagnosed With Melanoma Each Year
By Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
empowerher.com
Skin cancer, malignant tumors that form in the tissue of the skin, can take on many shapes, sizes and colors and may present itself with different symptoms in different people. However, there are some common symptoms everyone should be aware of because anyone can get skin cancer.
With each of the three most common types of skin cancer – basal cell carcinoma (BCC) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma itchy lesions are possible, but not likely.
It is more common for skin cancer to bleed than itch. More often you’ll find that the itchy patches are non-malignant and are something like psoriasis, eczema or ring worm.
Skin cancer is very common. It is the most diagnosed type of cancer in the United States. More than 68,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma, and another 48,000 are diagnosed with an early form of the disease that involves only the top layer of skin.
In addition, more than 2 million people are treated for basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer each year. Basal cell skin cancer is several times more common than squamous cell skin cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute, part of the Institutes of Health.
Melanoma
Melanoma often appears in an existing mole or looks like a new mole. By knowing where you have moles on your skin, you can find melanoma when it first appears.
Although melanoma is the most deadly of these three types of skin cancer, when treated early, melanoma is often curable.
In more advanced melanoma the texture of the mole may change. The skin on the surface may break down and look scraped. It may become hard or lumpy. The surface may ooze or bleed. Sometimes the melanoma is itchy, tender, or painful.
Here’s what to looks for:
• A mole on the skin that is growing, changing shape, or changing color
• A mole that looks scaly, oozes, or bleeds
• New dark spot on the skin that looks like a mole, but grows quickly
• Pain, itch, or bleeding in a new spot on the skin
• Streak (usually brown or black) underneath a fingernail or toenail
• Bruise on the foot that does not heal
Basal cell carcinoma
BCC begins in the basal cell layer of the skin. It usually occurs in places that have been in the sun. For example, the face is the most common place to find basal cell skin cancer, but it may appear on the scalp, neck, hands, and arms.
In people with fair skin, BCC is the most common type of skin cancer.
BCC often grows slowly. It may look like a:
• Reddish patch of dry skin that won’t heal
• Flesh-colored (or pink, red, or brown) pearl-shaped lump
• Pimple that just won’t clear
• Sore that bleeds, heals, and then returns
• Scar that feels waxy — may be skin-colored, white, or yellow
• Group of slow-growing, shiny pink or red growths — look like sores, often scaly and bleed easily
• Flat or sunken growth — feels hard, may be white or yellow
Squamous cell carcinoma
This is a very common type of skin cancer. It often appears on skin that got lots of sun, such as an ear, face, bald scalp, neck, or arm.
But it can appear elsewhere — even inside the mouth, on the lip, or on the genitals.
Too much sun is often the cause, but it is not the only cause. SCC can appear on skin that was badly burned, had lots of radiation (such as x-rays), or was exposed to strong chemicals.
SCC often has a reddish color. Without treatment, it can grow deeply. If this happens, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body. This can be deadly.
SCC often looks like a:
Hard (scaly or crusty) reddish bump, patch, or pearl-shaped growth
Open sore (often larger than one inch) that itches and bleeds — it can heal and return
Scaly patch on the lip; skin on the lip can get thick
There are also other less common types of skin cancer. For example, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is the most common type of lymphoma, a blood cancer, involving the skin that typically presents with red, scaly patches or thickened plaques of skin that often mimic eczema or chronic dermatitis.
This type of skin cancer can cause tumors that can cover up to 80 percent of the body and typically do itch and can become infected, according to the Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation.
The best way to tell if you have skin cancer is to see a dermatologist. You should see a dermatologist right away for a skin cancer check if you see anything on your skin that lasts for two weeks or longer and is growing, changing shape, bleeding or itching.
About SIMSYS-MoleMate
The FDA approved SIMSYS-MoleMate Skin Imaging System, a non-invasive skin cancer screening procedure, is a significant advance in the early detection of potentially life threatening moles and lesions.
Physicians have found the SIMSYS-MoleMate Siascope hand-held device easy to learn and use, and that it rapidly provides accurate images of the pigment, blood, and collagen below the mole or lesion.
Now, for the first time, physicians can more accurately evaluate suspicious moles and lesions in a non-invasive, pain-free way. Experts also believe it may reduce the need for time consuming and expensive biopsies.
For more information about SIMSYS-MoleMate, contact:
MedX Health Corp.
(905) 670-4428
(888) 363-3112
info@medxhealth.com
www.simsys-molemate.com
