 
MELANOMA
As
with basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell
carcinoma, excessive and chronic sun exposure is a
major risk factor for melanoma. There also is
a tendency for melanoma to "run in the family", and
to be associated with a familial trait of having
many moles on the body. Melanoma often arises in a
pre-existing mole or pigmented lesion. Early
diagnosis and treatment of melanoma is essential.
Any person with many moles or a family history of
melanoma should be examined regularly by a
dermatologist. Every adult should self-examine at
regular intervals to detect any early indications of
melanoma. Self-examination is done using the A-B-C-D
criteria:
A=Asymmetry
(the left side of the lesion is unlike the right
side)
B=Border
Irregularity (the lesion has a scalloped or poorly
defined border)
C=Color
Variation (not all parts of the lesion are the same
color;
within the lesion may be patches of tan, brown,
black, pink, white or blue)
D=Diameter
(while melanomas are usually greater than 6mm in
diameter when diagnosed, they can be smaller. If
you notice a mole different from others, or which
changes, itches or bleeds even if it is smaller than
6mm, you should see a dermatologist)
It is worth noting that
some melanomas do not conform to the A-B-C-D
criteria, so any suspicious mole should be examined
by a dermatologist. |
