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SkinCancerNet Article
Detection of Suspicious Lesion Improves with Family's Help
Studies indicate that
enlisting a family member to assist with self-examination of the
skin may help detect skin cancer in its earliest and most treatable
form. Here is what scientific studies have found:
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An Australian study of 513 melanoma
patients and 498 controls (persons without melanoma) published in
2000 found that when people counted their own moles, the number of
both common and atypical moles tended to be substantially
underestimated.1
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A study found that wives were more
likely to self-detect suspicious lesions than were their husbands
and were more accurate than husbands in detecting melanoma on the
skin of a spouse.2
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A study of high-risk patients found
that 25% were unable to detect an obvious increase in the size of an
existing nevus (mole), and 38% incorrectly identified a change where
no change occurred.3
Another benefit that comes from
enlisting the help of a family member or close friend is that
person’s ability to spot a suspicious lesion that might not be seen
by self-examination, such as one on the back, under the hairline, or
at the nape of the neck. Additionally, when a family member or close
friend helps, the person being examined is more likely to
acknowledge that a lesion looks suspicious. If a suspicious lesion
is spotted, a follow-up visit to a dermatologist is more likely to
occur with prompting from a family member or close friend.
Anyone who is helping with a skin examination should know the
ABCDs of Melanoma Detection:
Asymmetry – Does one half of a mole look different from the
other?
Border Irregularity – Is the edge (border) of the mole
ragged, notched or blurred?
Color – Does the mole have variety of hues and colors within
the same lesion?
Diameter – What is the size of the mole? While melanomas are
usually greater than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil
eraser) in diameter when diagnosed, they can be smaller. If
you notice a mole different from others, or which changes, itches,
or bleeds even if it is smaller than 6 millimeters, you should see a
dermatologist.
If you or a family member spots a suspicious lesion, be sure to see
a dermatologist.
For persons with increased risk for developing skin cancer, regular
examinations by a dermatologist are recommended. Factors that
increase one’s risk include family history of melanoma, presence of
atypical moles or a large number of moles, and white skin that burns
or freckles rather than tans.
References:
1 Buettner PG, et al.
Agreement between self-assessment of melanocytic nevi by patients
and
dermatologic examination. Am J Epidemiol. 2000 Jan
1;151(1):72-7.
2 Brady MS, et al. Patterns of detection in patients with
cutaneous melanoma. Cancer. 2000 July
15;89(2):342-7.
3 Muhn CY, et al. Detection of artificial changes in mole
size by skin self-examination. J Am Acad
Dermatol. 2000 May;42(5 Pt
1):754-9.
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