Feb
Im 16 but am extremely worried. My father had skin cancer in his 20's and fortunately got it found out in time and got it removed. Will skin cancer be hereditary and I might have it? I dont use sunbeds but we go to Florida yearly and sunbathe without sunscreen on?
Should I get checked out?
P.S: My father had skin cancer on the face.
Thanks x
Answer:
The most hazardous form of skin cancer, melanoma begins in a type of skin cell called a melanocyte. Melanocytes produce the skin pigment known as melanin, which is responsible for our natural skin color. When exposed to sunlight, these skin cells produce large amounts of melanin as part of the tanning process, helping to protect the skin from burning.
Pigmented markings of the skin are known as moles, which are groups of melanocytes in the skin. While moles are generally harmless, they have the ability to become cancerous.
Reducing Your Risk
Since melanoma is caused by the sun, it makes sense that people should try to avoid or protect themselves from the sun's harmful rays. This is especially important between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., when the sun's rays are the strongest.
Protect yourself by wearing wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Whenever you’re outdoors for an extended period, us a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher on all exposed skin — even in the winter — and carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Since early detection greatly improves one's chances of surviving melanoma, you should examine your skin each six to eight weeks. The ideal time to do this is after a bath or shower, standing in front of a full-length mirror. Use a hand-held mirror to help you view areas that are difficult to see. Analyze all moles or markings and look for any changes in the number, size, shape or color of these markings.
What To Look For
Melanoma can appear suddenly as a new mole or it can develop slowly in or near an existing mole. In men, melanomas are often found on the torso or the head and neck area. In women, melanoma often develops on the lower legs as well as on the torso.
The ABCDs of Melanoma
The simple ABCD approach is a useful guide to help you identify moles you should show your physician.
A = Asymmetry: Melanoma lesions are typically irregular in shape (asymmetrical); benign (noncancerous) moles are typically round (symmetrical).
B = Border: Melanoma lesions often have irregular borders (i.e., ragged or notched edges); benign moles have smooth, even borders.
C = Colors: Melanoma lesions often contain many shades of brown or black; benign moles are usually a single shade of brown.
D = Diameter: Melanoma lesions are often more than 1/4 inch or six millimeters in diameter (about the size of a pencil eraser); benign moles are usually less than 1/4 inch or six millimeters in diameter.
Early detection and treatment greatly improve the chance for surviving this disease. Patients with metastatic melanoma — where the disease has spread to other, more distant parts of the body — have a poorer chance of recovery. The longer you wait to have a mole analyzed, the greater the chance a potential melanoma may become metastatic.
Get Your Doctor Involved
If you notice an odd-looking mole or marking, contact your physician as soon as possible. He or she’ll take a complete medical history and give you a physical examination. If your physician also thinks the mole or marking looks uncommon, a procedure known as a biopsy will be performed.
To perform the biopsy, a local anesthetic will be injected under the skin to numb the area. The entire mole, or a small sample of the mole, will be removed and analyzed in a laboratory to determine if the mole is cancerous.
Treatment Is Available
Therapies for malignant melanoma include surgical excision of the melanoma, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and biological therapy, using interferons. Methods of treatment depend on the status of the disease or its clinical stage. When the melanoma has spread to internal organs, a combination of treatments can be used, often surgery coupled with radiation therapy.
Answer:
Like other cancers, skin cancer is rarely hereditary, though there are some rare skin disorders that run in families which can greatly increase the risk of skin cancer.
Although you're probably not at any increased risk because of hereditary factors, you’re greatly increasing your risk by sunbathing without sunscreen. This is the greatest risk factor for skin cancer.
Answer:
Yes get checked regularly and Never sun bathe with out sunscreen
We’ve a saying here slip on a hat slop on some sunscreen slap on lol I cant think of it right now
So the motto is slip slop slap
Answer:
Take no chances
my dad had cancer when I was very young, it did make a reappearance later on
Myself have noticed an increases in the number of small moles ( black ones ) on my body
Answer:
Any moles that change shape need checking out but for goodness sake use sunscreen in Florida - and at home when sunbathing or out in the sunshine.
Answer:
Do what I do…Get a yearly skin check from a dermatologist!! It puts your mind at ease…Yes it is hereditary