What Are The First Signs Of Skin Cancer in Toledo, OH?

At Anders Dermatology, we cannot stress the importance of skin cancer screenings enough, and we are happy to provide them for our clients. While skin cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer, it is also one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States, with over 1,000,000 cases diagnosed each year. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

The following risk factors increase your chances of a skin cancer diagnosis:

• Multiple or atypical moles
• Severe sunburns as a child
• Family history
• Unprotected and or excessive UV exposure
• Fair complexion

SKIN CANCER DETECTION: KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR

There are three main types of diagnoses—Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Malignant Melanoma. Early detection and intervention is crucial to preventing the cancer from spreading, so regular self-examination for suspicious moles is recommended. Any change in moles, such as size, color or shape, can be a warning sign of melanoma. Symptoms of itching, pain or bleeding can also be a suspicious change.

For learning to identify growths suspicious for melanoma, refer to the ABCDE guideline. Any one or more of these characteristics may be found in melanomas:

A stands for Asymmetry in mole
B stands for irregular or poorly defined Border
C stands for multiple Colors or uneven Color
D stands for large Diameter (> 6 mm)
E stands for Evolving mole or mole growth that stands out from the rest

Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer:

• Any changes on the skin, especially the change in size, shape or color of a mole
• Scaliness, oozing, bleeding or a change in the appearance of a bump or nodule
• Darkly pigmented growths
• The spread of pigmentation beyond its border
• A change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness or pain on the skin

Have you been experiencing any of the sign of Skin Cancer?
For more information or to schedule your skin cancer screening, call Anders Dermatology at  (419) 473-3257!