Dear Dr. Garner,

My brother was told he had melanoma last year. He was lucky that it was found on a routine physical and it had not spread.

My questions to you are: Should I be taking any special precautions, and what should I be looking for?

Both of us loved the sun growing up in Florida. Our family is really shaken up at this time. We read your column every week and look forward to your answer.

Fearing Melanoma in

Manhattan Beach

 

Dear Fearing,

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and also the least common. Having a close family member with melanoma puts the rest of the family at increased risk. The good news is that 90 percent of those diagnosed with melanoma will survive, and it is never too late to practice safe sun techniques.

Exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or tanning salons, along with gene mutations, are leading causes for this disease.

It is important to limit sun exposure and avoid tanning lamps to help reduce the chances of developing melanoma.

The best way to treat it successfully is to diagnose it at an early stage.

I would like to explain what a melanoma looks like and what you can do as an aid to your doctor to detect it at an early stage.

Melanoma often develops in a benign mole. A benign mole has a smooth border around it and a color that is pretty much uniform, usually black or brown.

Melanomas are most common on the backs of men and on the legs of women. Benign moles in general are so common that most people have about 20 of them on their skin. Benign moles are usually smaller than a quarter of an inch.

Detection Techniques

To help detect a cancerous mole, I recommend using the ABCs.

“A” stands for asymmetric shape. If you were to cut the mole in half, each half should look like the other.

“B” stands for border. The border of the mole should be smooth. If it is irregular, it should set off alarms.

“C” stands for color. If the mole changes color, it must be looked at carefully.

Two more warning signs:

“D” stands for diameter. If it gets bigger than a quarter of an inch, this may indicate a problem.

“E” stands for evolving. This is a mole that changes shape and appearance, as well as develops symptoms such as itchiness or bleeding.

There is a type of melanoma known as a hidden melanoma. These usually occur in dark-skinned individuals and are found in unusual places, such as under the nails, in the mouth, in the eye or in the vagina or digestive tract.

Melanoma often spreads like wildfire, and I cannot stress enough the importance of early discovery.

There are new treatments including chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. In immunotherapy, the patient receives medicine that makes his or her cancer-killing cells work better.

There has been great success with immunotherapy, and those with melanoma should be evaluated at a major cancer center.

I would like you to remember to look at your moles at least once a month so you will be able to notice any changes.

Those at high risk should be aware of their need to avoid the sun and tanning salons.

The high-risk group includes those with:

• Fair skin

• Family history of melanoma

• Over 50 years old

• Living close to the equator

• At least one major sunburn as a child

• Excessive exposure to the sun.

With summer almost upon us, it is a good time to take stock of this dreaded disease.

I hope this helps you better understand melanomas, the importance of early detection and the need to be safe in the sun.