How to Spot Squamous Cell Carcinoma & Melanoma
Signs of Skin Cancer Medical Screening Study
Jul 20, 2009
The American Cancer Society (ACS) advises that skin cancer screening should be done every three years for people 20-40 and yearly for age 40+. ACS provides information about how anyone can look for skin cancers on the body. “It’s important to check your own skin, preferably once a month...” advises ACS in an on-line (author unknown) article titled, “Monitor Your Skin for Signs of Skin Cancer.”
Skin Cancer Warning Signs
The ACS skin cancer article is published on their web site, and is dated 07/16/1999. The article advises, “...be familiar with your pattern of moles, blemishes, freckles, and other marks on your skin...” If the skin pattern on the body changes, ACS advises people to seek medical help. Any change in body marks may be a sign of skin cancer.
Types of Skin Cancer
The most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma according to the Farlex Medical Dictionary on-line. The dictionary states that basal cell carcinoma is as an abnormal, new slow-growing skin growth that rarely spreads. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. What causes this skin cancer usually is sun exposure. The most dangerous of the skin cancers is melanoma, usually developing in a mole on the skin.
Malignant Melanoma Symptoms
The ACS skin cancer article advises, “Know the difference in appearance between melanoma and an ordinary mole.” Any change in a mole may be a developing melanoma. The four signs, according to ACS, to distinguish between an ordinary mole and possible melanoma are:
- Asymmetry. Half of the mole is not the same as the other half.
- Irregular Border. Notched or ragged edges on the mole.
- Color Change. The color of the mole changes such as "...differing shades of tan, brown, or black...patches of white, red, or blue.
- Size. Look for a mole with a diameter of more than one quarter inch. If any sudden or ongoing increase in size is noticed seek medical attention.
To determine the quality of skin cancer screening of the U.S. medical community, the Division of Medical Informatics and Outcomes Research, of the Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, conducted an extensive survey.
The Medline database (an on-line medical database) was searched, by the Oregon Health Sciences University, for published medical information on skin cancer screening from 1994-1999. The results of the study are in an article titled, “Screening for Skin Cancer.” The article is published on the PubMed web site. The authors of the article, dated April 20, 2001, are:
- Helfand M.
- Mahon SM.
- Eden KB.
- Frame PS.
- Orleans CT.
The “Screening for Skin Cancer” article states that 500 medical abstracts were researched, in addition to other (not named) studies. The results, in addition to the skin cancer screening evaluation, found a high medical cure rate for skin cancers. The study concludes, “The quality of the evidence addressing the accuracy of screening by primary care providers for early detection of melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer ranged from poor to fair.”
The Oregon Health Sciences University “Screening for Skin Cancer” study, "fair to poor screening," may indicate few full-body exams by a physician. The American Cancer Society article advises that it is in the interest of everyone to have regular cancer exams, in addition to a cancer prevention lifestyle. Everyone should inspect monthly the skin patterns of “moles, blemishes, freckles, and other marks...” Medical attention should always be sought when noticing a change in skin patterns, according to ACS.
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