Can Blood Tests Or Scans Detect Skin Cancer
Currently, blood tests and imaging scans like MRI or PET are not used as screening tests for skin cancer. However, some national studies are underway to determine if concentrations of skin cancer DNA can be detected by blood tests. Occasionally, imaging detects signs of advanced disease. Sometimes, skin cancer that has spread to internal organs is detected incidentally when a patient is undergoing an imaging study such as MRI or PET scan for unrelated conditions.
The Importance Of Annual Exams
The easiest and most effective way to detect skin cancer is to self-check your skin and go to a dermatologist regularly for a check-up.
Experts disagree on what groups of people should get annual exams: Some say you only need a screening if you have suspicious moles or risk factors for melanoma others say everyone should get an annual skin check.
A few factors increase your risk of skin cancer, and if you have any of these, you would benefit from a yearly check-up:
- Fair skin, light eyes and blonde or red hair
- Skin that burns or freckles easily
- A family history of any type of skin cancer
- History of tanning bed use
- History of severe sunburns
- Unusual moles or more than 50 moles on your body
For now, even though these apps may be helpful in some ways, your best bet is to seek the professional opinion of a dermatologist or doctor if you notice any suspicious moles or other warning signs of skin cancer.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
How To Give Yourself An Inspection
To stay ahead of skin cancer, you must familiarize yourself with every spot on your body. Were talking about moles, freckles, age spots, or any other discoloration. Skin cancer can develop anywhere, so its important to be thorough when performing your inspection.
Stand in front of a full-length mirror and start by inspecting your front and back sides from head to toe. Next, inspect your right and left sides with your arms raised.
After youve looked in the highly visible places on your body, youre going to need a hand mirror to get a view of the harder to reach places. Start with the back of your neck and scalp. Part your hair to ensure you get a good look at different areas on your scalp.
Next, check all of your nooks and crannies. Arms, elbows, palms, lower back, buttocks, legs, knees, and feet all need to be inspected closely with your hand mirror. If available, have someone assist you in looking at some of the harder to reach places.
Now that youve identified any and all of dark spots on your body, how can you tell whats cancerous and whats not?
Recommended Reading: How Do You Treat Skin Cancer
Should I Use A Skin Cancer Detection App
Anything that reminds you to look for signs of skin cancer is a good thing. However, some smartphone apps claim to be able to assess certain skin changes and inform individuals whether such changes warrant a visit to a dermatologist for further analysis.
Thus far, the accuracy of these is not high enough and relying solely on an app, rather than on your own observations and visits to a doctor, you could put yourself at risk by delaying a visit to the doctor when one is warranted. In one recent study, the most accurate skin cancer detection app missed almost 30% of melanomas, diagnosing them as low-risk lesions.
However, these apps are evolving, and one day they could become part of the arsenal to help detect skin cancer. Smartphones can be useful in terms of telemedicine. For instance, in locations where dermatologists may not be readily available, a local physician can send a photo of a suspicious mole to a dermatologist and based on visual inspection and communication with that physician, determine what steps to take next.
Why Early Detection Of Skin Cancers Like Melanoma Can Save Lives
The benefits of wearing sunscreen are well known after years of awareness campaigns to help prevent skin cancer. Yet, skin cancer remains the most common cancer in the United States. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lifetime.
Scripps skin cancer expert Hubert Greenway, MD, chairman of the Bighorn Mohs Surgery and Dermatology Center, joins San Diego Health host Susan Taylor to explain why skin cancer happens so frequently, who is most at risk, and what you can do to protect your skin.
Different types of skin cancers
Most skin cancers result from exposure to ultraviolet rays from sunlight, which is why preventive measures, such as regularly applying sunscreen, are so important. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common and usually appear in sun-exposed areas, such as the neck, ears and eyes.
Melanoma is less common but it is the most serious type of skin cancer. Melanoma tumors can develop anywhere on the skin.
Melanoma is the most dangerous skin cancer. It has the highest risk of spreading if you don’t get it early, says Dr. Greenway.
Melanoma risk factors
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 91,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the US in 2018, and about 9,320 people will die from the disease.
The risks of melanoma increase with age, which is one reason the number of cases has risen over the years, especially among older adults, Dr. Greenway says.
Melanoma survival rates
Related tags:
Read Also: How Severe Is Skin Cancer
What Newer Tools Are Available To Diagnose Skin Cancer
Some newer devices allow doctors to spot problematic skin lesions.
One approach, called reflectance confocal microscopy , uses a low-power laser to scan skin lesions and provide important clues about whether theyre cancerous or not. RCM is sometimes used in combination with another method called optical coherence tomography , notes the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
3D total body photography is another new technology thats used to track changes in the appearance of moles or lesions in people at risk for melanoma. Dozens of digital cameras snap pictures of patients simultaneously. Then a computer creates a 3D avatar to show all the lesions on an individuals body, so doctors can inspect them further.
Skin cancer apps are also becoming popular detection devices. These apps, available via most smartphones, claim to assess skin changes and help people decide whether they should see their dermatologist. While they can be helpful at promoting awareness, the accuracy of these programs is questionable. One recent study found the most accurate skin cancer detection app missed nearly 30 percent of melanomas, per the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
RELATED: The Right Hat Can Help Prevent Skin Cancer
Spot The Cancer You Can See When Its Easiest To Treat
The worlds most common cancer is a relentless disease that strikes one in five people by age 70. The good news is that 99 percent of all cases are curable if they are diagnosed and treated early enough. But in order to stop skin cancer, we have to spot it on time.
Skin cancer is the cancer you can see. Unlike cancers that develop inside the body, skin cancers form on the outside and are usually visible. Thats why skin exams, both at home and with a dermatologist, are especially vital.
Early detection saves lives. Learning what to look for on your own skin gives you the power to detect cancer early when its easiest to cure, before it can become dangerous, disfiguring or deadly.
You May Like: What Can Happen If Skin Cancer Is Left Untreated
What Do Early Stages Of Skin Cancer Look Like
Since most skin cancers occur on the outer layer of skin, which is visible to the naked eye, theres a higher chance of catching the disease early on. Early detection means early treatment and a better chance of recovery. How can you tell if you might be developing skin cancer? Here are four major types of skin cancer, and what to look out for:
- Basal Cell Carcinoma: often appears as an almost translucent or white-ish bump on sun-exposed areas of the skin. However, it can also occur in other areas and present as a scaly patch or brown, blue, or white lesion.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma: can show up as wart-like bumps, scaly red patches, open sores with crusty edges or oozing that dont seem to heal, and lumps with a depressed center.
- Melanoma: typically appears as a dark, mole-like growth. They can be found on any area of the body, and are among the more aggressive skin cancer forms, so early detection is vital.
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma: is an extremely rare, but aggressive, form of skin cancer that emerges as a red-raised bump with a mole-like shape.
What Irregularities To Look For When Checking Your Skin
Before you go on to perform your skin check, you need to know what you’re looking for. The first step is to observe your entire skin and its features and get used to its look. You need to be familiar with your skin and what it looks like in its current healthy state.
When you begin your skin checks, you can now look for new appearances on your skin and things that weren’t there before. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, changing skin form and appearance could be a sign of skin cancer. Such changing appearances include growths on the skin that increase in size, moles that grow and lose color, scabs, crusts, itching spots, and sores that don’t heal in weeks.
Recommended Reading: What Happens When You Get Skin Cancer
Get To Know Your Skin
The sooner a skin cancer is identified and treated, the better your chance of avoiding surgery or, in the case of a serious melanoma or other skin cancer, potential disfigurement or even death.
It is also a good idea to talk to your doctor about your level of risk and for advice on early detection.
It’s important to get to know your skin and what is normal for you, so that you notice any changes. Skin cancers rarely hurt and are much more frequently seen than felt.
Develop a regular habit of checking your skin for new spots and changes to existing freckles or moles.
Looking To Visit A Dermatologist
We have multiple locations throughout the country, so fill out our simple online form to get in touch with us. One of our local team members will reach out to you shortly to answer your questions or schedule an appointment for you to visit us soon.
Find a location near me
Sign Up for Our Newsletter!
Get the latest updates on news, specials and skin care information.
You May Like: What Are The Symptoms Of Renal Cell Carcinoma
Early Skin Cancer Symptoms You Cannot Ignore Ever
Early skin cancer symptoms can help you save your life. That is, if you discover them on time! Find out everything you need to know about them!
To help prevent skin cancer, it is essential to be responsible and protect yourself from UV rays. Also, be alert to any changes that moles may experience.
Skin cancer is one of the most common tumors, melanoma being the most deadly among them, according to experts from the Spanish Association Against Cancer.
The incidence of this serious condition has increased considerably .
The main reason for this increase is the lack of common sense when exposing oneself to ultraviolet rays .
The new paradigm of beauty identified as a perfect tan, in addition to a certain level of mass hysteria in trying to achieve it, has also conspired in the widespread mistreatment of the skin.
Early Detection And Treatment Of Skin Cancer
ANTHONY F. JERANT, M.D., University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California
JENNIFER T. JOHNSON, M.D, Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Georgia
CATHERINE DEMASTES SHERIDAN, M.D, Buedingen Army Health Clinic, Buedingen, Germany
TIMOTHY J. CAFFREY, M.D, Commander, Vicenza Army Health Clinic, Vicenza, Italy
Am Fam Physician. 2000 Jul 15 62:357-368.
One in six Americans develops skin cancer at some point. Skin cancer accounts for one third of all cancers in the United States. Most patients with skin cancer develop nonmelanoma skin cancer. This group of cancers includes basal cell carcinoma, the most common neoplasm worldwide, and squamous cell carcinoma. Fortunately, mortality associated with nonmelanoma skin cancer is unusual. However, malignant melanoma accounts for 75 percent of all deaths associated with skin cancer.
Melanoma, the eighth most common malignancy in the United States, is the cancer with the most rapidly increasing incidence. One in 1,500 Americans born in 1935 were likely to develop melanoma, compared with one in 105 persons born in 1993.1 In contrast to nonmelanoma skin cancer, which typically affects older persons, the frequency of melanoma peaks between 20 and 45 years of age.
The rising incidence of skin cancer over the past several decades may be primarily attributed to increased sun exposure associated with societal and lifestyle shifts in the U.S. population and to depletion of the protective ozone layer.3
You May Like: What Are The Three Most Common Types Of Skin Cancer
What Causes Skin Cancer
There are several significant risk factors, including:
Sun Exposure: Sun exposure is cumulative. Each time a person gets a sunburn, their skin is damaged on a genetic level. The damage increases over the individuals lifetime and may eventually cause this condition.
Use of Tanning Beds: Because indoor tanning beds emit more UV radiation than the sun, their use is directly tied to increased risk for this type of cancer.
Genetics: Some people are more genetically predisposed to it than others. People with fair skin, and especially individuals with red hair, are at greater risk of developing both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers. Individuals with a family history also have a higher chance of developing one of these conditions.
How Are Moles Evaluated
If you find a mole or spot that has any ABCDE’s of melanoma — or one that’s tender, itching, oozing, scaly, doesn’t heal or has redness or swelling beyond the mole — see a doctor. Your doctor may want to remove a tissue sample from the mole and biopsy it. If found to be cancerous, the entire mole and a rim of normal skin around it will be removed and the wound stitched closed. Additional treatment may be needed.
Also Check: What Type Of Skin Cancer Spreads The Fastest
Am I At Risk For Skin Cancer
Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of skin color. However, some factors increase your risk, including:
- A personal history of skin cancer
- Skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily, or becomes painful in the sun
- Blue or green eyes
- A history of indoor tanning
- Certain types and a large number of moles
- A family history of skin cancer
- Having had a lung, heart, kidney, pancreas or liver transplant
The Importance Of Early Detection
The early detection of skin cancer is vital and can reduce a patients risk of disfigurement through removal, or in the most serious of cases death. It is therefore very important to get to know your own skin so that you can recognise any signs of change that may be a potential skin cancer or pre cancerous skin legion.Please be aware that it is important to check your skin both thoroughly and regularly to ensure you identify abnormal changes as early as possible.It is also important to seek immediate professional advice from your GP or skin specialist / dermatologist should you be concerned or uncertain about anything you identify.There are two main types of skin cancer, Non-Melanoma skin cancers and Melanoma skin cancer, which is the most serious type of skin cancer. Below you will find examples of each of the various forms of skin cancer within these categories, with tips and symptoms to help you understand what you should be looking for when checking your skin.Further in-depth information on all types of skin cancer including: signs, symptoms, causes and risk factors, treatments and prevention guidelines can be found in the ‘Types of Skin Cancer’ section.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It grows slowly over months and years and may damage nearby tissues and organs if left untreated.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Melanoma
Recommended Reading: How To Treat Melanoma Skin Cancer Naturally
Skin Cancer Screening Studies
For people without a history of skin cancer in their families, no studies have been done to test the effectiveness of routine screening for melanoma. Periodic skin examinations are the key to diagnosing skin cancer at its earliest stage, when it is most easily cured. Most cases of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma first appear as changes in the skin, which, once noticed by the patient or primary care doctor, are then verified as skin cancer by a dermatologist after a skin examination and biopsy have been performed. Since basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are almost always cured without specified screening, no studies have shown that such screening will improve the already high cure rates for those types of skin cancer.
Family history is a risk factor for melanoma. In addition, there is strong evidence that the risk of melanoma increases for individuals who have atypical moles or many common moles. Other melanoma risk factors include previous melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancers, skin that burns readily and fails to tan, freckling, blue eyes, red hair, and a history of blistering sunburns. To date, there is no evidence to show that screening individuals with any of these risk factors will reduce the number of melanoma deaths.
Dermatological Reviews At Vithas Xanit Internacional
In case you need to go to a dermatological review, remember that at Vithas Xanit Internacional we offer you the most complete reviews, carried out by the best specialists with the latest advances in technology and techniques for diagnosis and treatment. Contact us for more information or make an appointment.
Also Check: How To Catch Skin Cancer Early