Visual Screening

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. The most common types of skin cancer are non-melanoma and melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. More than one million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and nearly 54,000 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. Even though melanoma accounts for a small percentage of skin cancer cases, it is responsible for 79 percent of skin cancer deaths.

Early detection of skin cancer is the key to successful treatment. Routine examination of the skin increases the chance of finding skin cancer early. Self-examination of the skin should be performed monthly. A doctor should promptly evaluate all suspicious skin lesions.

The most common warning sign of non-melanoma skin cancer is a change on the skin, especially new growths that are pale, pearly, wax-like nodules; or sore that doesn’t heal. Red, scaly, sharply defined patches; or patches of skin that bleeds, oozes, swells, itches or becomes red and bumpy are also warning signs.

The ABCD rule provides guidelines to help identify a mole that could be a sign of melanoma:

	Asymmetry: One half doesn’t match the other half.
	Border Irregularity: The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.
	Color: The color is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown, and black are present. Dashes of red, white, and blue add to the mottled appearance.
	Diameter: The growth is greater than 1/4 inch, or 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser). Any growth of a mole should be of investigated.

Abnormal growths or sores can be caused by conditions that are not cancer. It is important to have these changes evaluated by a doctor, however, so the actual cause can be determined. The only certain method of diagnosing cancer is to take a biopsy of the area in question.