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Moles
and Melanomas |
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All too common, all too deadly The most common form of fatal cancer for people ages 20-50 is melanoma, which is skin cancer. Melanoma is essentially a cancerous pigment cell tumor, and often form in moles, which are simply collections of pigment cells. Start with prevention To prevent melanoma, there are two important steps you can take: 1. Practice "skin vigilance." Since half of all melanomas form in existing moles (while the other half form on perfectly normal skin), it is important to be aware of any changes (size, shape, color, thickness) in your moles. Unfortunately, when a melanoma is developing, you will feel no pain or discomfort. Your only clue is visual. Watch for changes in your moles or skin. Melanoma in pre-existing moles will result in moles that suddenly change in shape, color or texture. Melanoma in normal skin will appear like an new, abnormal mole, neither round nor uniformly colored. If you detect any such changes, you should see your dermatologist immediately. 2. Avoid sunburn. If this sounds like a common theme in keeping your skin healthy, you're right. If you have had three blistering sunburns before the age of 20, you have substantially increased your risk of developing a melanoma. (PERCENTAGE??) Are you at risk? Having lots of moles is one of the biggest risk factors for developing melanoma. The other main risk factor is your family history: having cancer?/melanomas in your family is a reason for increased vigilance. In fact, if you have many, large moles, your dermatologist may recommend having some removed as a preventive measure. The good news Treatments for melanoma are among the most effective in the fight against cancer. The cure rate for surgically removed melanoma is 99%. This is why it is crucial that you act quickly if you detect any changes in your skin. If you have questions about moles or melanomas, contact Dr. Caldwell or one of his staff. |
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