Spotting Melanoma Skin Cancer Early from a Memphis Dermatologist George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (09/08/2024)
Skin Cancer including Melanoma takes the lives of upwards of 20,000 Americans every year. That’s about one person every 26 minutes. The good news is that early detection leads to early treatment. Let’s take a look at the five Key Melanoma Facts that a Memphis Dermatologist like myself would use to help detect Skin Cancer early.
First, you’ve got to look for Skin Cancer to detect Skin Cancer. Dermatologists have long known that many Melanomas are first spotted by a concerned family member who inspects loved ones, detecting a changing growth or mole and getting the patient to the prompt attention of a Dermatologist. So to spot a suspicious growth early, you do need to get your family members pretty much completely undressed, at least once a month, for a home inspection, because (critical fact #1) skin cancer can occur on all parts of the body: the most common location for Melanoma in women is the upper leg, and in men it’s the back, but significant lesions can really occur on any part of the body.
Years ago, we Dermatologists taught that certain people were “high risk” for skin cancer: redheads, blonds, those who freckle easily, or those who love the sun or who have a history of severe sunburns. “Low risk” people were those who routinely wear sunscreen, avoid the sun and tanning salon bulbs, or who tan easily. (Critical fact #2) Really everyone’s at risk of skin cancer. Many Skin Cancers occur in brunettes or in people who tan rather than burn. In fact, African-Americans and Latinos tend to be diagnosed much later, leading to a higher fatality rate. So everyone could benefit from a Skin Cancer Screening at least once a month at home, and at least once a year with a Dermatologist!
Critical Fact #3: Be aware that Skin Cancer affects more than just senior citizens. In fact, the median age for development of Melanoma is 52 years old. That means that half of the people developing Melanoma are younger than 52. The youngest patient whom I myself have diagnosed with Melanoma in my own Memphis Dermatology practice over the last 32 years was a fifth grader: 10 years old! So don’t forget to inspect your kids. Data shows that several thousand people under the age of 20 develop Melanoma in the U.S. each year, including several hundred below the age of 12.
The patient below has a Squamous Cell Carcinoma on his shoulder.
Critical Facts #4-5: Know the A, B, C, D, E warning signs for Skin Cancer: rules of thumb for recognizing significant lesions or growths:
A stands for Asymmetry: one half of the lesion does not match the other half.
B stands for Border: a jagged border, perhaps like the coast of Maine, rather than of Florida.
C stands for Color change: different hues of brown or black within the lesion, or one mole that’s a darker color than the person’s other moles.
D stands for an increasing Diameter of the lesion.
E stands for Evolving: if the lesion is changing, it’s best to bring it to the attention of a Dermatologist.
We know what action to take for suspicious moles or growths: if caught early, generally a simple removal, or “excision” of the lesion under local anesthetic is curative. If the lesion turns out to be a precancerous lesion – such as a high-risk atypical mole – or a full-fledged skin cancer – Dermatologic Surgeons like myself often try to ensure that the lesion is completely out – by doing what’s called a “reexcision.”
I have practiced as a Memphis Dermatologist these last 32 years with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, Cordova, TN (1-901-753-0168; wwwRheumderm.com). Certain cases of Skin Cancer benefit from a technique called Mohs Micrographic Surgery, or Mohs Surgery, to allow the Dermatologist to process the tissue right in the office, at the time of surgery, to evaluate that the margins of the specimen are clear of cancer. Mohs Surgery has been available through my Memphis Dermatology practice since 2004.
Or you can find a Dermatologist closer to you by going to the American Academy of Dermatology web site, AAD.org, then simply plugging your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab.
For more helpful tips and photos of melanoma, go to the Skin Cancer Foundation website: skincancer.org.
My own Memphis Dermatology practice sponsored a short movie on Melanoma about a beautiful young lady named Scarlet Akins, a 26-year-old woman studying to be a teacher at Ole Miss who discovered a changing spot on her knee when she was about two months from delivering her daughter. Check out her moving story on Youtube: “Understanding the Melanoma Crisis: Scarlet’s Story.”
So see spot. See spot change. See a Dermatologist!
Alert:
We’re getting ready to enter a challenging time of year, with the drier colder air of the fall and winter, when people with Eczema, Atopic Dermatitis, and Psoriasis will desperately need help in lubricating their skin. In 2016, I have been President of Big River Silk Skincare, manufacturer and distributor of special best Antiwrinkle Cream, to help people with sensitive skin achieve relief from dryness and itching:
We offer both GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion and GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream. So let’s take a look at which is the best option for your skincare needs:
GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion is lighter to apply, nongreasy, and fragrance-free, appealing for most people with combination skin or even oily skin. It can be used once or twice a day, particularly to areas where you wish to achieve better skin color, texture, or tone. (1 oz: $45.95; 2 oz: $68.95; 8 oz: $217.95)
GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream has a higher concentration of Refined Shea Butter, making this product more lubricating and more useful for people with drier skin. With more concentrated Shea Butter, GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream has an initial aroma of Refined Shea, right after application, with more prolonged moisturizing effects, making this variety more convenient to apply at bedtime. (1 oz: $45.95; 2 oz: $68.95; 8 oz: $217.95).
GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion and Cream are also helpful for what makes them pure. Designed by Dermatologists, both of these exfoliating moisturizers are fragrance-free, dye-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and formaldehyde-free, making them into best Organic moisturizer (1 oz: $45.95; 2 oz: $68.95; 8 oz: $217.95).
GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion and GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream are available for over the counter sale at Big River Silk Skincare’s Headquarters, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018 (1-901-753-0168; www.Bigriversilkskincare.com). Or they can be ordered at https://www.Bigriversilkskinacre.com ($7.50 shipping and handling for orders under $75.00/$12.50 for Canadian orders; otherwise USPS shipping and handling is free).
George Woodbury Jr. M.D.
Memphis Dermatologist at
Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates PC
8143 Walnut Grove Road
Cordova TN 38018
1-901-753-0168 Info@rheumderm.com
09/08/2024
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