Missing a Melanoma Diagnosis Is a Crime.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and the numbers are on the rise. In 2018, there were 9.5 million deaths due to cancer. This is expected to almost double by 2040. There are a number of variables which may influence this trend, from an increase in the average lifespan, to lifestyle and environmental factors, and more. Changes in cancer screening behaviors is also important to consider, as many potential cancers have gone unchecked during the coronavirus pandemic.

While understanding the reason behind the trend is important, and could provide crucial knowledge pertaining to the treatment of cancer, the fact remains that diagnoses are on the rise. One type of cancer in particular is the most common, and in many cases the most preventable and treatable: skin cancer.

“Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting humans and is one of the most preventable types of cancer through education and public awareness”. – James Goydos, M.D., F.A.C.S.

The importance of early detection of cancer regarding treatment options, survival rate, and prognoses cannot be overstated. Early detection can help to increase options for treatment, and subsequently improve long-term survival rates. This remains true for the early detection of skin cancer.

While many types of cancer require sophisticated procedures to identify, visible forms of skin cancer can often be detected with the naked eye. Of course, it is important to get any potentially problematic skin lesions checked and confirmed by your doctor. However, in the interim between annual visits with your dermatologist or an oncologist, conducting regular self-skin checks is essential. Having a loved one assist with detecting hard to spot spots such as the back can also be helpful.

Checking your skin at least once a month can be the difference between early detection and a late-stage diagnosis. Full-length mirrors can help you to see your whole body, but handheld mirrors are also useful to check the head, scalp and neck. It is important to check the whole body, including the palms of the hand, nailbeds, between the toes, and soles of the feet. The American Cancer Society has some great tips on how to do a self-skin check.

There are several tools available which can help you to not only remember to check your skin, but to conduct the process, as well. Something as simple as setting a monthly reminder on your phone or putting a date down in your calendar can make remembering as easy as checking your phone.

Considering that most Americans check their phones every 12 minutes, it is safe to say that you probably won’t miss that reminder. Remember to set it to recur each month, and also schedule at least a yearly check-in with your doctor.

When it comes to actually checking your skin, in addition to using your eyes to spot your spots, thanks to modern technology, you can actually get help from a different type of lens: the one in your phone’s camera.

A modern smartphone should all come equipped with a camera, making the potential for detecting harmful skin lesions only a click away. Using your camera to take photos of the skin at regular intervals can help you to keep track of any changes in your skin. Considering that changes to the skin are one of the markers to look out for in the ABCDE’s of melanoma, understanding how your skin changes over time is essential.

By using your phone’s camera in this way, you are not only likely to keep this tool with you daily (increasing the likelihood of keeping up the routine checks) but you will also have the pictures available for comparison. Sharing these photos with your doctor at your next check for skin cancer can provide useful information that can provide context in which to better understand the state of your skin health.

Beyond simply taking photos of your skin yourself, there are now many applications on the market that help to actually detect potentially problematic skin lesions. With the aid of computer vision technology and image detection, these applications will analyze the photo or live recording of your skin, and provide information regarding potential diagnosis .

These tools are not meant to replace visits to your doctor, or to be the final say regarding a confirmed diagnosis of skin cancer, but can be helpful in better understanding your skin. It is important to note that, as with most things, there are potentials for both false positives and false negatives.

This means some lesions may be flagged as skin cancer that are not, or that some spots that are actually skin cancer, may go missing by the tool. This underscores the importance of keeping up your regular checks with your doctor. Regular visual skin checks, photographing your skin, and using camera detection to detect skin cancer, are all useful and should be used in tandem.

With all of the available tools at one’s disposal to monitor for skin cancer, it should not go undiagnosed. Early detection is essential, and you can take your health into your hands by incorporating some of these tools into your routine. It just may save your life.

About Dr. James Goydos

Dr. James Goydos is an expert in melanoma research and specialist in surgical oncology with an M.D. from Rutgers University. With over 20 years of experience as a Professor, Surgeon, and Clinical Trial Lead, he is a leading expert in his field.

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