Chances are either you or someone you know has been diagnosed with skin cancer. In fact, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer before they turn 70, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the two most common forms of skin cancer, are highly treatable if detected early and treated properly and the five-year survival rate for melanoma that is detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is 94%, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. “ Early detection generally leads to better cure rates, simpler and smaller surgical procedures and less risk for recurrences or complications,” Dr.
Matthew Muellenhoff, dermatologist and medical director at SIERRADERM Center for Dermatology in Grass Valley, says. “ More advanced skin cancers sometimes are very difficult to remove and may require non-surgical modalities such as radiation, immunotherapy or chemotherapy.” Finding a spot early begins with being aware of changes on your own body.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that a change in your skin is the most common sign of skin cancer. This could include a new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a change in a mole. For melanoma, a simple way to remember what to watch for is “ ABCDE”: “ Be aware,” urges Dr.
Muellenhoff. “ It is important to know your skin, including your spots and moles, so you can pick up when something new shows up. Generally speaking, catching a suspicious spot ea.
