How to spot skin cancer?

Skin cancer is one of the most common, yet preventable, forms of cancer.

Yet, according to the American Cancer Society, more than two million skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States. That’s more than all other cancers combined.

Rob Wuczynski, 41, a suburban Chicago resident, first noticed a mole on his ankle while in Florida at a golf tournament.

“It was darker than normal and seemed to stand out,” Wuczynski said. “My wife, Gail, sent me to the dermatologist and within two weeks I was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma.”

Melanoma is a less common, but far more serious, form of skin cancer. It occurs in the skin cells that produce the pigment in your skin known as melanin. Melanoma can spread quickly to other parts of the body, but when detected in its earliest stages and treated properly, it also is highly curable.

Wuczynski’s cancer was caught in time, located deep within the skin tissue. Treatment included cutting out three millimeters of skin around the mole, followed with a battery of blood tests and the need for annual monitoring.

How can you spot skin cancer?

In addition to seeing your doctor regularly for skin checks, be aware that the most important warning sign is a new spot on the skin or one that is changing in size, shape or color.

Check for a sore that does not heal, spread of pigment from the border of a spot to surrounding skin, redness or a new swelling, change in sensation — itchiness, tenderness or pain — or a change in the surface of a mole — scaliness, oozing, bleeding or the appearance of a bump or nodule.

Wuczynski now takes his sun exposure seriously.

“As a boy, I played Little League baseball all summer long,” he said. “My college years were spent in the sun at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. That was a time when I thought having a deep, dark tan looked great. I was wrong.”

Wuczynski said he still loves to play golf, but now wears a floppy hat, plenty of sunscreen and limits his game so he can spend more time with his daughter, Morgan Jane.

The good news is that you can do a lot to protect yourself and your family from skin cancer or to catch it early enough so that it can be treated effectively. Finding possible skin cancers doesn’t require any x-rays or blood tests — just your eyes and a mirror.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are many ways to prevent skin cancer:

Limit exposure to the sun during the midday hours

When outdoors, cover as much skin with clothing as possible, including a hat with a wide brim to shade face, ears and neck.

Wear sunglasses to protect eyes from UV light.

Use a sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher and apply 20 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. Reapply sunscreen as necessary, especially after swimming, perspiring, or towel drying.

Avoid artificial sources of UV light (sunlamps, tanning beds).

An estimated 11,980 skin cancer deaths will occur in 2011. Every day in Illinois, approximately 167 people will discover they have cancer.

The American Cancer Society’s Patient Navigation Services provides resources for any cancer-related concern, from medical or heath care issues to insurance questions to requests for specific support or simple reassurance.

source: southtownstar.suntimes