Latest news with #SkinCancerAwareness
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Skin expert shares why everyone should look out for ‘ugly duckling' moles
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and a dermatologist has shared some tips on how to spot the disease early. Rates of malignant melanoma in the UK have risen faster than any of the other most common cancers in the last 30 years. And as May is Skin Cancer Awareness month, it's more important than ever to start discussions on the symptoms and early signs of melanoma. With this in mind, Dr Sweta Rai, a Doctify -rated consultant dermatologist and dermatological surgeon, has shared expert insight into the risk factors for skin cancer, offering advice on how to check your moles. The skin expert also put people on alert for an 'ugly duckling' mole and what to do if you discover a potentially dangerous growth. Dr Rai said: "The skin is the largest and most visible organ of the body. "Often, any changes or new moles will be overtly visible, unlike cancer of an internal organ. This means that if more people know what to look for, we should be able to detect more melanomas at an early stage. Here is Dr Rai's advice on the risks of skin cancer and how to spot it early. The main risk factors for skin cancer Dr Rai shared that there are seven main risk factors for skin cancer. These are: Skin type Sunburn Outdoor hobbies and occupation Tanning bed use Family history of melanoma Lots of moles Immunosuppression The ABCDE method of checking moles The dermatologist explained that moles are brown coloured blemishes of the skin. They can appear flat or raised, and are sometimes skin coloured or pink. Most of us have at least half a dozen moles, though some people can have many more. The acronym ABCDE can be helpful in evaluating moles, said the expert. The ABCDE of moles is: Asymmetry: one half of the mole is different to the other Border: irregular, scalloped or poorly-defined edge Colour: uneven colour or variable colours within a mole Diameter: the mole is bigger than 6mm in size Evolving: the mole is changing in its size, shape or colour Dr Rai explained: 'If a mole shows any of these features, it warrants review by a GP or dermatologist to exclude melanoma. "Other signs to look out for include any new moles, a mole that looks significantly different to the others [known as the ugly duckling sign], or any skin lesion that bleeds or fails to heal. However, changing moles do not always represent skin cancer and most moles are usually harmless. "It can be normal for moles to change in number and appearance; some can also disappear over time. Hormonal changes during puberty and pregnancy can cause moles to increase in number and become darker." If you think you have spotted an 'ugly duckling' mole on your body, as with any of the ABCDE risk factors, you should speak to your GP and get it checked out. When and how to check your moles The dermatologist said the ideal time to check your moles is "probably after a bath or shower" and it should be carried out "in a well-lit room with the aid of a full-length mirror". Dr Rai continued: "Look closely at your entire body including the scalp, buttocks and genitalia, palms and soles including the spaces between the fingers and toes. Use the ABCDE rules above and see your doctor about any concerns." Having a skin check buddy, which is a friend or family member who can check your moles as you check theirs, can help you to spot moles or blemishes in areas where it's difficult for you to see. Dr Rai concluded: 'The main message I'd like to give this Skin Cancer Awareness Month is to keep looking at your skin once a month and come to see a specialist in skin cancer once a year to examine your skin." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Irish Times
02-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Sunbeds, melanoma and me: ‘I knew the risks but thought it could never happen'
Until this year, Jane Murray was a 'sun worshipper'. In her 20s, she would use sunbeds religiously, topping up her tan before going on holidays or weddings. Though she has not used the beds in years, her love for tanned skin had her seeking out the sun whenever she could in the subsequent years. 'When I was on holiday, I would go down to the sun lounger at like 9am. I'd lie there all day until lunchtime, go up and get lunch, come back down and lie there until six in the evening,' she said. 'I would wear SPF [sun cream with sun protection factor], but by the end of the two weeks I'd get factor four or factor six, the lowest I could find, and I was practically sizzling.' READ MORE Now aged 46, she said her attitude towards tanning and the sun changed completely after she was diagnosed with skin cancer in February this year. She had a mole on the back of her arm that her friends and family had highlighted over a number of years. Eventually they convinced her to get it checked. But she admitted she agreed mostly to get them to stop talking about it. 'When she [the doctor] said I had stage two melanoma I honestly thought she wasn't talking to me. I was completely shocked. I wasn't even listening really. I just kept wondering how it happened,' Ms Murray said. In March she underwent surgery to remove the melanoma. She asked the surgeon at the time what would have happened had she put off the mole check even further. 'He told me I would've been asymptomatic until I was stage four and then there would have been nothing they could have done for me,' the personal trainer from Dublin said. She was given the all clear at the end of April, and since then has come to realise just how powerful the sun can be. 'I keep thinking how stupid it is [to do that] for a tan, and then sure it washes off two weeks later once you're home. I knew the risks, but I kind of thought it could never happen to me. I see so many sunbed shops in Ireland now, and there are young ones using them. That's why I want to share my story,' she said. Speaking to mark Skin Cancer Awareness month, Ms Murray said she wanted the public to avoid sunbeds and to get any skin moles checked. Her other big message is for people to 'enjoy the sun, but be smart about it'. 'Just don't let your skin burn. You wouldn't eat burnt toast, so why would you let your skin burn?' she said. Skin cancer is Ireland's most common cancer with 11,500 cases diagnosed annually. The National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) expects the number of people diagnosed with skin cancer in Ireland to double by 2040. In 2014, the then government banned the use of sunbeds for those aged 16 and under. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he would support an overall ban on sunbeds, likening them to asbestos and smoking. The Department of Health has begun work examining this issue. Kevin O'Hagan, cancer prevention manager at the Irish Cancer Society, said nearly nine out of every 10 cases of skin cancer were caused by UV rays from the sun or sunbeds. 'Sun safety is vital and that means protecting your skin wherever you are, home or abroad. With most Irish people having fair skin, this will burn much quicker at soaring temperatures and this greatly increases the risk of skin cancer,' he said. 'It's also important to go to your GP if you notice any skin changes. These can be a new or changing mole, a flat red spot, a firm red lump, an ulcer or spot that is tender to the touch or rough and scaly patches.' He said early detection was vital, adding: 'The sooner skin cancer is diagnosed, the more treatment options there are and the better the chance of cure.'
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Comprehensive cancer screening clinic to be held at West Penn Cancer Institute in May
The Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute is holding its May cancer screening event at West Penn Cancer Institute. The clinic will be held on Saturday, May 17. Registration is already open to AHN and non-AHN patients. Anyone interested in attending must make an appointment by calling 412-359-6665. AHN said patients with or without insurance are encouraged to participate in the clinic. Patients may receive up to seven screenings in one day, all at one location. Screenings may include: Breast cancer (ages 40-74) Cervical cancer (ages 21-65) Colorectal cancer (ages 45-75) Head and neck cancers (ages 18+) Lung cancer (ages 50-80 with a history of cigarette smoking) Prostate cancer (ages 45-75) Skin cancer (ages 18+) With May being Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness month, AHN officials urge people to regularly examine their skin for new or unusual moles or changes to existing moles. 'Regular self-skin checks, year-round, and professional skin exams are crucial for early detection,' Dr. Howard Edington said. 'Don't let a single sun-drenched day or a missed check become a missed opportunity for early intervention.' AHN says skin cancer screenings are the most popular screening offered at the monthly clinics. The opportunity to get a comprehensive cancer screening isn't just at these monthly clinics. You can also schedule an appointment at a weekly screening clinic at Jefferson Hospital and Forbes Hospital. Click here to learn more. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
