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Skin Cancer ABCs
Reviewed By:
Andrew Seibert,
SOURCES: 2010 Medical Reference from Medstar Television. David Polsky, MD, PhD, Dermatologist, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York. Jennifer Stein, MD, PhD, Dermatologist, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York.
© 1999-2011 Medstar Television
Narrator:
If you want to catch melanoma before it catches you, you need to bone up on the alphabet.
David Polsky, MD, PhD, Dermatologist, NYU Langone Medical Center:
What we've described in the ABCDE's are really features of early melanoma for the most part and we know that when people come in at the very earliest stages of melanoma,
that it is curable by surgery.
Narrator:
Researchers at New York University Langone (LANG-gohn) Medical Center came up with the skin cancer detection guide back in the 1980's.
Each letter stands for a feature of a mole that could mean trouble's brewing.
David Polsky, MD, PhD, Dermatologist, NYU Langone Medical Center:
These are designed for the lay public to prompt them to seek medical attention.
Narrator:
So listen up. Dermatologist Jennifer Stein has the rundown.
Jennifer Stein, MD, PhD, Dermatologist, NYU Langone Medical Center:
A stands for Asymmetry – meaning if one side of a mole looks different from the other side, that can be a warning sign.
B stands for Border – moles should just have a nice smooth edge. They shouldn't have a tail on one side or scalloped edge on the other. C stands for Color – moles should just be even in color.
They should just be say, brown. They shouldn't have multiple colors like black, red, white and blue in the middle of mole.
It can be a worrisome sign. D stands for Diameter – the size of a mole. Anything bigger than a pencil eraser should be looked at more carefully.
Narrator:
The newest kid on the block is 'E'. Doctor David Polsky recently added the letter because cancer is always evolving.
David Polsky, MD, PhD, Dermatologist, NYU Langone Medical Center:
One of the hallmarks of cancer is that it's growing out of control and growing means changing.
A change in color or change in size or change in the border, change in their appearance, even when they're smaller than six millimeters.
Narrator:
Examine yourself from head to toe once a month.
Jennifer Stein, MD, PhD, Dermatologist, NYU Langone Medical Center:
Including your scalp. Make sure you look in between your fingers and in between your toes. Even a new spot on the nail could even be an unusual, but possible sign of melanoma.
And for people with darker skin, it's important for them to look, always look on your hands and feet.
Narrator:
If you have risk factors check in with a dermatologist.
Jennifer Stein, MD, PhD, Dermatologist, NYU Langone Medical Center:
If you have a personal history of any kind of skin cancer, if you have a family history of skin cancer including melanoma,
people who've had a lot of sunburns in their life, people who have a lot of moles.
Narrator:
People who use tanning beds are also at greater risk. Protection is key. So avoid the midday sun, cover up with clothing and wear an S-P-F of at least 30. For WebMD, I'm Damon Meharg.
