Skin Cancer Screening & Diagnosis

From Women's Health Resource

For more up-to-date information, please go to their web site:
http://www.wdxcyber.com/skin_cancer_diagnosis.html

One of the most important factors contributing to the success of cancer treatment is how early a case of cancer is detected. This is true for almost all types of cancer, including skin cancer. By recognizing the early signs of skin cancer, a more appropriate treatment can be selected. Indeed, by some estimates, nearly all cases of skin cancers would be curable if only they were caught earlier.

Skin Examinations: Detecting Signs of Skin Cancer

Regular skin examinations are one of the best diagnostic tools in the early detection of skin cancer. These can (and should) be performed both by yourself as well as by a doctor. These exams are particularly effective in detecting warning signs of melanoma.

When performing skin cancer self exams, you should especially be looking for the appearance of moles. When evaluating whether or not a mole is a cause for concern, experts recommend using the ABCDE rule:

A is for asymmetry. Look for moles that are not symmetrical (don't look the same on both sides). B is for border. Also keep an eye out for any moles that have blurry or jagged outlines. C is for color. You should be concerned if the color of your mole changes (i.e. darkening, spread or loss of color, multiple colors). D is for diameter. Moles larger than 1/4 inch in diameter should be brought to the attention of a medical professional. E is for elevation. Raised or uneven moles could be a sign of skin cancer.

You doctor will be looking for similar patterns when he does a clinical skin evaluation. This should be performed on a yearly basis. For those with a greater risk of skin cancer, such as those with a family history of the condition, however, exams should be performed more often.

Getting a Skin Cancer Diagnosis: Skin Biopsies

While self-examinations are often an effective tool for detecting early signs of skin cancer, in order to make an accurate diagnosis your doctor will need to perform a biopsy, in which a small sample of skin is removed for analysis by a pathologist. Prior to receiving the biopsy, you will likely be given a local anesthetic to numb the area under investigation.

There are several types of biopsies currently used to diagnose skin cancer. What type your doctor will choose will depend on what type of cancer is suspected and the extent of the presence of suspicious cells.

Shave biopsy. This type of biopsy involves removing the skin using a tool similar to a razor. In general, a shave biopsy will not require stitches.

Punch biopsy. A punch biopsy requires the doctor to use a circular tool to remove a small section of the skin's deeper layers. Stitches are usually required, as the wound generally extends about 1/4 inch deep.

Excisional biopsy. This slightly more invasive procedure involves the removal of the entire visible growth or abnormal skin tissue. For patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma, this may be the only treatment necessary.

Incisional biopsy. An incisional biopsy involves the removal of only a sample of the suspicious cells using a scalpel. Stitches may be required, depending on the amount of skin removed. This is the most common type of biopsy performed.

Biopsies are effective tools for evaluating both the presence of cancerous cells as well as the extent (or grade) of the cancer, which is normally expressed on a scale of 1 (least aggressive) to 4 (most aggressive). Generally, the results take one or two days to establish; however, your doctor will inform you of how long of a wait you should expect.

Alternative web sites often are lost, are made illegal in the current political climate.

Because of the intrinsic value of this information for the reader, we at Black Salve Indonesia, in addition to providing a link to the reference, also reprint it here for safe keeping. We kindly invite the author to contact us.

It appears obvious in many cancer-related publications, the author may be leery of liability. As such one must often read-between-the-lines, to understand what is revealed there. 

"Everything is backwards; everything is upside down. Doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information, and religions destroy spirituality."
~ Michael Ellner

Please suggest a link: 
nyepih@BlackSalveIndonesia.org