May is Skin Cancer Awareness month. Thanks to being diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma, I’m aware of if every single day.
You should be, too.
Melanoma (cancer of the melanocyte — what gives you pigment) is deadly and difficult to treat if not detected in time. The good news is that it’s easy to detect — all you have to do is check your skin. Look for the ABCDs. Asymmetry: Is the mole irregularly shaped? Border: Is the mole’s border ragged? Color: Is it black or two-toned? Diameter: Is the mole growing or larger than a pencil eraser? Does the mole bleed or itch? Has it grown or appeared rapidly? Those are all signs that you need to get a doctor to check it. Don’t hesitate. It’s a decision that could save your life.
I know. It saved mine.
Marshall,
Five years ago my dermatologist did a punch on a growth on my arm that looked like a clear wart. 5 days later I found out I had late stage 3 Melanoma. Thanks to God, Dr. Phillip Ley and Dr. Tammie Young, I lived to make this comment. Let’s face it, we were lucky to live to talk about this
The only thing I would add to your ABCD is wear sunscreen, no tan is worth dying for. If you have a family history of Melanoma get checked periodically, because it has been proven the it can be genetic. Lastly, not all melanomas follow the ABCD, mind didn’t, so if it looks like it doesn’t belong, get it checked.
Happy First Monday, Survivor,
John Clingen