Why Do a Skin Self Exam? - Part 1 of 2 - Healthination

HOST: Hello and welcome to HealthiNation. I'm guest host Shonda Schilling. Many of you may know me as the wife of baseball star, Curt Schilling. But what you may not know about me is that I am a skin cancer survivor. Skin cancer is on the rise, especially melanoma, which is the deadliest form of the disease and the type of cancer I had. I was lucky enough to catch my melanoma in time to have it successfully treated, but every year thousands of people die from melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. To raise the awareness of the growing epidemic and the importance of early detection, Curt and I founded The SHADE Foundation. And now through HealthiNation we're here to show you how to do a self skin exam. We want you to know what to look for so you can stay healthy and cancer free. Doctor Holly Atkinson is here to show us the signs and symptoms of skin cancer. PHYSICIAN: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. And, thankfully most skin cancers can be treated, often right in a doctor's office. The key to successful treatment, though, is early detection. That's why it is so important to perform regular skin exams. You should perform a self skin exam every month. The best time is just after a shower or bath, and the goal is to get to know your body. It's also a good idea to teach young kids how important it is that they get to know their bodies too. You'll need to check all parts of your body, even those that don't normally see any sunlight. Skin cancer can develop in areas that are usually covered, and also in people with dark skin. In fact some skin cancer is not always related to sun exposure. During the exam, remember the ABCDE's. These are guidelines to help you determine whether a spot or bump may be something that should be checked by your doctor. The ABCDE's are: A Asymmetry, does it look uneven? B Border Irregularity, are the edges irregular? C Color variation , are you seeing multiple colors within the lesion? D Diameter, is it wider than 6mm? that's about the width of a pencil eraser. Though some may be smaller. E Has it evolved, has the color, size or symptom changed? If you do find a new spot on your body, or see that an existing mole or freckle has changed, it doesn't mean that you have cancer. But, you should get it checked out by your primary doctor or dermatologist.