Skin Cancer Screening

At Coastal Valley Dermatology, we’re dedicated to educating people about skin cancer and the need for early detection. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and affects over two million people every year. If you are at risk for skin cancer or notice an abnormality like an irregular mole or patch of skin, you should schedule a skin cancer screening with Monterey and Carmel Dermatologist, Dr. Roya Javid.

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Early detection is vital with skin cancer. If it’s detected before its penetrated the skin, the typical survival rate is around 99 percent. If undetected, the cancer can advance which causes the survival rate to fall drastically.

How do you get skin cancer?

The American Cancer Society has found common skin cancer risk factors to include:

Unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation
Fair complexion
Occupational exposures to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium
Family history
Multiple or atypical moles
Severe sunburns as a child

Signs of Skin Cancer

Additionally, common symptoms and signs of skin cancer include:

Any change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or other darkly pigmented growth or spot, or a new growth
Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule
The spread of pigmentation beyond its border such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark
A change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness, or pain

If you have any of these symptoms, contact to your doctor about a screening.

How to avoid skin cancer

Skin cancer is preventable. Limit your exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Seek shade during the hours when the sun’s rays are the strongest. Choose comfortable clothes made of tightly woven fabrics that aren’t see-through. And when outdoors, always apply sunscreen with a protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.

Skin Cancer Education

The same type of skin cancer can look very different from person to person. This makes it hard to look at a picture and tell if you have skin cancer. The best way to tell if you have skin cancer is to see a dermatologist. You should see a dermatologist right away for a skin cancer check if you see anything on your skin that lasts for 2 weeks or longer and is:

Growing
Changing shape
Bleeding or itching

These are signs of skin cancer. If it is caught early and removed, skin cancer has a high cure rate.

The most common cancer in the world.

More than 2 million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year. And that’s just in the United States. Most Americans will have one of these skin cancers:

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer. More than two million cases of this skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year.

This skin cancer usually develops on skin that gets sun exposure, such as on the head, neck, and back of the hands. BCC is especially common on the face, often forming on the nose. It is possible to get BCC on any part of the body, including the trunk, legs, and arms. People who use tanning beds have a much higher risk of getting BCC. They also tend to get BCC earlier in life.

This type of skin cancer grows slowly. It rarely spreads to other parts of the body. Treatment is important because BCC can grow wide and deep, destroying skin tissue and bone.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common skin cancer in humans. About 700,000 new cases of this skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year.

This skin cancer tends to develop on skin that has been exposed to the sun for years. It is most frequently seen on sun-exposed areas, such as the head, neck, and back of the hands. Women frequently get SCC on their lower legs. It is possible to get SCC on any part of the body, including the inside of the mouth, lips, and genitals.

People who use tanning beds have a much higher risk of getting SCC. They also tend to get SCC earlier in life. SCC can spread to other parts of the body. With early diagnosis and treatment, SCC is highly curable.

Melanoma

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. Anyone can get melanoma. When found early and treated, the cure rate is very high.

Allowed to grow, melanoma can spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma can spread quickly. When melanoma spreads, it can be deadly.

Dermatologists believe that the number of deaths from melanoma would be much lower if people:

Knew the warning signs of melanoma.
Learned how to examine their skin for signs of skin cancer.
Took the time to examine their skin.

It’s important to take time to look at the moles on your skin because this is a good way to find melanoma early. When checking your skin, you should look for the ABCDEs of melanoma.

Signs of melanoma

The most common early signs (what you see) of melanoma are:

Growing mole on your skin.
Unusual looking mole on your skin or a mole that does not look like any other mole on your skin (the ugly duckling).
Non-uniform mole (has an odd shape, uneven or uncertain border, different colors).

If you see a mole or new spot on your skin that has any of the ABCDEs, immediately make an appointment to see Carmel Dermatologist Dr. Roya Javid.

If you suspect you have skin cancer, don’t wait. Call our dermatology office at 831- 293-8458.

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Coastal Valley Dermatology is committed to providing state-of-the-art medical and non-surgical rejuvenation treatments that allow our patients to feel youthful and confident. Schedule your consultation in person or via Telehealth video visit with Dr. Roya Javid at 831-293-8458.

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