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The Process of Detecting Skin Cancer |
About Common Skin
Cancers
The most common form of cancer in the United
States, can be practiced with a monthly self
examination combined with a yearly visit to
your doctor.
Early detection is key because, if diagnosed
soon enough, skin cancer is almost always
curable.
There are three main types of skin cancer, all
of which are visible if you know what to look
for.
Melanoma, one of the main forms of skin
cancer, is the deadliest.
This disease is the most difficult to stop
after it has spread throughout the body, which
is why early detection and treatment are
crucial.
Skin cancer, of any kind, can usually be
treated with success in it’s early stages.
As individuals, everyone has freckles,
birthmarks and moles.
These are a part of you and you are used to
seeing them, but you may not notice slight
changes right away and that’s what you need to
be watching for.
Any change in a mole’s shape, edges, size or
color should be checked by a physician.
If a mole becomes larger than that of a pencil
eraser or if it’s color is multiple shades of
brown rather than a solid color, these are both
potential warning signs of skin cancer.
A mole’s border should be well defined and, if
that is no longer the case, notify your
doctor.
In addition, any sore that will not heal or a
mole that grows larger at a rapid speed should
be tested immediately.
Deciding to seek medical attention is
difficult. For this reason, it’s best to choose
a physician that you are comfortable with, such
as a family doctor.
He/she can examine your skin and refer you to a
dermatologist if needed.
The presence of skin cancer is determined by
removing all, or part, of the questionable area
and testing it with a microscope.
Surgery is often utilized in the removal of ski
cancer and, if done in the early stages, can be
a very quick process.
There will likely be a scar, but the physician
may be able to completely remove all cancerous
cells with only a very small incision.
If the cancer has spread, or is very large in
the defined area, additional surgery may be
required. In this case, chemotherapy or
radiation treatments may be ordered to ensure
the cancer is completely removed.
Your physician will be able to answer all
questions that you may have and should do so
without reserve.
When meeting with a doctor, ask for an
explanation of all treatment options, including
their likelihood for success in your particular
case. Deciding to seek medical attention is a
big step and one that a patient must be
mentally prepared for.
This article should not be construed as
professional medical advice. If you, or someone
that you know, is concerned about the
possibility of cancer, you should seek medical
attention immediately.
A medical doctor can discuss various options,
prevention and treatment possibilities should
the presence of cancer be detected.
A series of tests may be conducted in order to
confirm, or rule out, any such diagnosis and
can only be done by a medical
doctor.
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