Skin cancer is so common nowadays, and it’s important to get regular screenings for it because if you do have a cancerous mole, early detection is key to possibly saving your life! There are many types of skin cancer - Basal Cell, Squamous Cell, and Melanoma are the most common, with Melanoma being the deadliest. But if caught early, even Melanoma is almost 100% curable.

Are you at risk for skin cancer?
According to The Skin Cancer Foundation (this link has a lot of good skin cancer info, including how to do a self-exam), anyone can get skin cancer, but there are certain factors that put you at greater risk. Sun exposure, tanning beds, living in a hot climate, or having previous blistering sunburns can put you at a higher risk. If you have a large number of moles, you are also at a greater risk. Lighter skin types, of course, are at greater risk, and if a first-degree relative has skin cancer, that greatly increases your chances of getting it. My dad has had several Melanomas removed, so that’s one of many reasons why I now stay out of the sun. If you have had previous bouts with skin cancer, or have a weakened immune system, that also puts you at a great risk of getting skin cancer.

Skin cancer detection
Even though I’ve looked at tons of pictures of skin cancer online, I still don’t have a clear idea of how to spot skin cancer. I currently have a mole on my back that looks sort of “funny” so I want to have it looked at. It’s good to have a Dermatologist screen you once a year and look at all the moles on your body to detect anything suspicious. I hate to go to the Dermatologist just to have a little mole looked at, which is pretty dumb, considering I used to go to the Dermatologist all the time when I was trying to cure my acne. It’s not like acne will kill me. I did have one suspicious mole a long time ago - it was a large, round, black mole. The Dermatologist removed it, which wasn’t a big deal, and luckily it came back as cancer-free. It left a big white scar, which was annoying, and my insurance didn’t cover the procedure, since it wasn’t cancer! That’s another reason why I stay out of the sun now!

If your mole meets any of these criteria, make an appointment with your Dermatologist right away:
Asymmetry - draw a line down the middle of the mole, and the two halves don’t match.
Border - the edges of the mole are uneven, or scalloped.
Color - the mole has a variety of colors, or shades of the same color.
Diameter - the mole is larger than the size of a pencil.
Evolving - the mole has changed in size, shape, or elevation, or it’s now prone to bleeding, itching, or crusting.

Look for free skin cancer screenings in your area
Occasionally I will notice ads for free cancer screenings at the hospitals around town, or there have even been buses where you can get evaluated for free! Check all the free magazines around town, and check with the hospitals and town community centers. I am kicking myself because I know there was a free screening event recently, and now I can’t find the info!

Some good news about moles
Guess what? The bad news is that having a lot of moles makes you more susceptible to skin cancer, but the good news is that having a lot of moles means you are probably aging slowly! People with a lot of moles tend to have cells that age slower, thus making you less susceptible to diseases as a whole, and making your skin appear younger. Hmmm, vanity vs. health… No matter what, make an appointment to get screened today if you haven’t done so recently.