How to detect skin cancer early

Skin cancer is one of the most common diseases and is less detected over time; in the general population, it can be detected in the areas of the head, face, neck, hands, arms, and legs, while generally in men it is also present in ears and eyelids.

This was mentioned by the renowned Dermatologist, Dr. Giovanna Lazcano Sherman, certified by the Mexican Board of Dermatology, in her lecture "Skin Cancer" which was given to collaborators of the Autonomous University of Guadalajara (UAG) and was organized by the Union of Academic and Administrative Workers (STAA) of the UAG.

Skin cancer is a negative change suffered by this organ, from normal to abnormal cells, and is caused by sun radiation and ultraviolet rays. There are also genetic variables that could cause the disease. It can be detected by the appearance of various physical elements on the skin, such as spots, sores, and warts.

This condition presents itself in different ways and with different names such as melanomas, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. There are also Merkel's carcinomas, Kaposi's sarcoma, cutaneous lymphoma, sarcomas, and tumors.

Basal cell carcinoma is a more common type of skin cancer, it usually grows slowly and causes metastasis.
Spinocellular carcinoma grows over burns, wounds, or previous ulcers. It can metastasize.
Melanoma is very aggressive, fast-growing, and can metastasize.

Skin cancer can have symptoms and few people notice it, it appears in areas that do not receive much attention such as the soles of the feet, behind the ears, back, genitals, and other parts of the body; among the most common symptoms are:

Raised or flat areas with sores that do not heal.
Flat, pink spots that do not go away.
Red or pink scaly or rough patches.

As explained by Dr. Giovanna Lazcano, melanomas are the most common and can also be detected by observing moles or spots on the skin, these are presented and differentiated from moles, freckles, or spots with a rule that she called: "ABCDE".

"A" for Asymmetry, a skin cancer, unlike a mole, is not symmetrical, but like a spot or scab without shape.
"B" for Border, the same as above, its edges are irregular and feel rough on the skin.
"C" for Color, if it has more than two colors, it could be cancer.
"D" for Diameter, it grows in diameter and shape.
"E" for Evolution, is a transformation of a spot in a short time.

The doctor recommended taking care of yourself in the short and long term, using sunscreen, trying to walk in the shade, and wearing clothes that protect the exposed parts of our body, even when visiting the beach; shirts, hats, and long-sleeved shirts are the best allies against the sun.

The sun's ultraviolet rays are the most aggressive enemies of the skin, they can be reflected by objects such as sand, water, walls, glass, and even inside the home, which can affect the skin, the largest organ of the human body.

If you ever identify some of these symptoms, the most important thing to do first is to see a specialist to receive an accurate diagnosis and, if so, to treat the condition properly, said Dr. Lazcano Sherman.

Source: UAG Press Bulletin