According to the United Nations, in 2020, more than 1.5 million skin cancers were diagnosed worldwide.
Melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer
There are different types of skin cancer, with the two main ones being carcinoma and melanoma. Carcinoma, which accounts for 96% of diagnosed skin cancers, is the most common. Melanoma makes up the remaining 4% but is more severe due to its much faster ability to spread to other organs. Compared to other cancers, skin cancers can be benign if they are detected and treated early. For these reasons, here are some tips to help you quickly spot any lesions that might look suspicious.
Since the skin is the only organ visible to the naked eye, it’s easier to detect an abnormality. We encourage you to perform a full-body self-exam two to three times a year, using a mirror or with the help of someone else. At the slightest doubt, we advise you to schedule an appointment with your dermatologist or primary care physician, who can thoroughly examine you.
Self-examination: An effective way to detect melanoma
According to the French National Authority for Health, a self-examination is carried out in 3 stages:
Step 1: Direct Examination
Begin by looking for irregular spots on your hands and feet. Pay close attention to your palms, nails, fingers, the spaces between your fingers, and the front of your arms, forearms, thighs, and legs (both inner and outer sides).
Step 2: Full-Body Examination with a Floor Mirror
Examine your skin from head to toe while standing in front of a mirror. Turn your body to the left and then to the right while raising your arms. Also, check under your arms and your back.
Step 3: Handheld Mirror Examination
For areas that are difficult to see, use a handheld mirror to inspect your neck, back, scalp, and don’t forget your genital area.
The ABCDE Method for Recognizing Melanoma
It is true that usually brown spots, moles (nevi) or growths on your skin are harmless, but this is not always the case. We are therefore going to introduce you to a method that will enable us to recognise the signs of melanoma.
A. Asymmetry
Melanomas are recognisable by their asymmetrical shapes, if you draw a line down the centre of your spot, the two parts of it will not be similar. In contrast, a healthy mole (nevus) will be round or oval and symmetrical.
B. Border
Generally, melanoma has irregular edges, whereas a normal brown spot often has smoother edges.
C. Color
A benign mole is most often brown, while the colours of a melanoma are shades of brown, dark beige or black. Depending on the growth, you may see other colours such as white, blue or red.
Exception: amelanotic melanomas are not pigmented and are quite rare. They are more difficult to detect than a classical melanoma. We can recognise it by its red or pinkish colours which can sometimes change to light brown pigments.
D. Diameter
The diameter of a spot should be monitored. If the lesion grows to 6 millimetres in diameter or more, this may be an early warning sign of a melanoma.
E. Evolution
It is important to keep an eye on the evolution of the spot over time, according to the different criteria mentioned above as well as the elevation of the lesion. Bleeding, itching or scabbing can be warning signs of melanoma.
We advise you to take photographs of your skin often enough, especially if you have spotted an abnormality or an area with a large number of moles, so that you can detect any changes.
Not all melanomas are alike, so the photos in this article are for reference only. If you notice an irregular spot that matches the ABCDE signs, we advise you to consult a specialist as soon as possible. The dermatologist, with the help of a dermatoscope, will provide you with a more precise diagnosis and will treat if necessary.
Sources:
- https://www.docteurcyrilroux.com/dermatologie-medicale/melanome.html
- https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma/melanoma-warning-signs-and-images/
- https://www.has-sante.fr/upload/docs/application/pdf/gmed._melanome_231106.pdf
- https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/find/at-risk/abcdes
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