Checking your skin regularly for moles is the only way to catch melanoma, one of the deadliest types of skin cancer, early, says Dr. Maxwell Sauder of Toronto's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. — via healthing_ca PMResearch_UHN healthing cancer skin
Meehan, 63, was a marketing professional with the London Health Sciences Foundation in August 2017 when she noticed that a mole on her forearm had become bigger, was asymmetrical and also itchy.It prompted a visit to her doctor who referred Meehan to a tissue specialist in London. The specialist performed aof the mole, where, after freezing the area, skin is removed and sent to a lab for analysis.
She was advised that surgery was necessary as soon as possible. But first, there were MRIs to check whether or not the melanoma had spread. Unfortunately, the scans shows that it had likely spread to the lymph nodes in her right armpit. The surgery in October removed the cancerous tissue on her forearm, leaving a large scar as a constant reminder of life’s uncertainty. Part of the suspect lymph nodes was also removed for monitoring.
“People think, ‘Oh, well, you just have [the mole] removed in your doctor’s office and you’re on your way,’” Meehan says. “That’s a misconception. Melanoma is the most invasive type of skin cancer with the highest risk of death. I don’t think people are aware of that.
“We know that blistering sunburns before the age of 18 increases your risk of developing melanoma in your lifetime,” Sauder says, adding that while he’s not against spending time outdoors, he recommends being safe around the sun. This includes applying sunscreen liberally and frequently , taking advantage of shade, and wearing sun protective clothing like hats and rash guards. “The ultimate goal ideally is that your skin is uniform in colour, so you really want to try and avoid that T-shirt tan.
“You’re really looking for something that you spot in the mirror and it makes you think, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t remember that looking like that,’” he says. “It’s that kind of traumatic difference.”
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