Unfortunately, even this may not be enough to completely protect you against skin cancer. That’s why it is becoming increasingly important to get checked out annually by a medical professional in addition to conducting regular self-exams to identify any existing skin abnormalities.

What should I look for?

In recognition of it being National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, the health care professionals at Fayetteville’s Highland OB-GYN Clinic have come up with a list of things to look for in your identification of melanoma, referred to by the American Cancer Society as the ABCD rule:

• Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark that does not match the other.
• Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
• Color: The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, or less common pink, red, white, or blue shades.
• Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch — the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can be smaller than this.

Since not all types of melanomas fit the rules described above, it is important to contact our dedicated obstetric and gynecological specialists about any and all changes in skin lesions, new skin lesions, or growths that look different from the rest of your moles or freckles. Also be on the lookout for sores that do not heal, the spread of pigment from the border of a spot to surrounding skin, redness or a new swelling beyond the border, change in sensations (itchiness, tenderness, or pain), and change in the surface of a mole (scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a bump or nodule).

Early detection & prevention in Fayetteville, NC

Did you know that women are more likely to survive melanoma than men? It’s true. Among patients with stage I or II cutaneous melanoma, women have been found to have a consistent 30% advantage over men in overall survival and rate of relapse, according to a study published online earlier this year in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

While the reason behind this remains unclear, some medical experts believe men are often diagnosed at later stages of the disease because they are less aware of melanoma and therefore less likely to be screened and/or seek medical care for a suspect lesion.

Head-to-toe cancer screenings

Cancer screenings are vital to early detection and prevention, and should be a routine part of your health care regimen. Most cases of melanoma and nonmelanoma cancers are found in areas of excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, did you know that you can also get cancer on unexposed areas of your body such as your upper thighs and underarms?

Our Fayetteville obstetricians and gynecologists are trained to identify even the most obscure cancer spots. We offer a wide array of early detection and preventive services in efforts to help you effectively manage early onset to advanced cases of melanoma.

For more information about our skin cancer screenings or other obstetric and gynecological services, contact Highland OB-GYN at 910-485-1191. You can also fill out our contact form to request an appointment online.