Screening For Skin Cancer - Chapter 9 Skin Cancer Whos At Risk: Cancer
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
Screening for skin cancer
You can undergo screening for skin cancer at your healthcare provider's office, or do it yourself (or with the help of your partner) at home. Look for any changes in your skin, especially in the appearance or size of moles, using the ABCDE guidelines.
| ABCDE rules for detecting melanoma |
| A symmetry: The shape of the mole is different on each side. |
| B order: Instead of a smooth, circular border, the mole has a jagged or irregular border |
| C olor: Instead of being the same color, the mole contains different shades of brown, tan, and black, and may even have red, blue, or white patches. |
| D iameter: The mole is larger than the size of a pencil eraser. |
| E levation/E volution: The mole is not uniformly elevated and it is changing shape over time (evolution). |
Look for growths. Use a mirror to examine the parts of your body, like your back, that you can't otherwise see easily. Don't forget to examine your scalp by parting your hair in sections.
Screening can seem time-consuming, but it is worth it, especially in the case of malignant melanoma. About 96% of those who found malignant melanoma early, before it had spread, were still living five years later. By contrast, only 59% of those whose melanoma had spread to adjacent tissues - and just 12% of those whose cancers had spread throughout their bodies - survived that long. So become familiar with your skin, and talk with your healthcare provider if you notice any growths that meet the ABCDE guidelines.
| Last updated: | May 01, 2008 |
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Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
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