Simple precautions can help reduce the risk of melanoma

The specialist: Dr. Ellen Marmur on melanoma.

As the vice chairman of the department of skin cancer and cosmetic surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Ellen Marmur is a dermatologist who performs about 1,500 skin cancer surgeries a year. As part of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Monday has been declared Melanoma Monday.

Who’s at risk:

Of the three major types of skin cancer, melanoma is the deadliest and least common, accounting for less than 5% of the 3.5 million new skin cancers diagnosed annually.

“Melanoma is a tumor that arises from the skin’s normal pigment-producing cells when UV damage causes them to grow out of control,” says Marmur. “The problem with melanoma is that it tends to have rogue cells that can break off and spread to other parts of the body — which makes it potentially deadly if not detected early.” Melanoma causes 75% of all skin cancer deaths.

Exposure to ultraviolet light is the prime cause of melanoma. “The biggest culprit is the sun and your daily habits, like whether you wear sunscreen or not,” says Marmur.

“Although fair people are at higher risk, people with all colors of skin get melanoma — it’s a myth that if you have brown hair, brown eyes and brown skin, you can’t get melanoma,” she says. Another risk factor is having more than 50 moles.

Taking a few preventive measures can go a long way. “I give patients three easy rules: never step into a tanning salon, never intentionally sunbathe, and wear sunscreen while living an active life,” says Marmur.

“A recent British study found that going to a tanning bed one time increases your risk 75%, so just don’t do it. Spray tans and self-tanners are the safe way to get a tan.” Due to high-risk tanning behaviors, melanoma is on the rise in young women under the age of 40.

Signs and symptoms:

Melanoma manifests as moles or brown spots, so the trick is to identify the difference between benign moles and suspicious ones. “We use the mnemonic device ABCDE,” says Marmur. “That means you want to keep an eye out for any moles characterized by asymmetry, blurry borders, odd colors or multiple colors, large diameters, or visible evolution or change.”

Typically, a mole is considered large if it’s bigger than a pencil eraser.

The key is becoming familiar with your moles and monitoring them. “We recommend giving yourself a self-check once a month,” says Marmur. “Usually we’re looking for brown things, especially if they’re evolving or changing, and definitely if they bleed.”

Use a mirror to inspect hard-to-reach places, or ask a loved one to help. “If a brown spot seems worth a second look to you, take it to the dermatologist,” says Marmur. “The difference between getting it looked at immediately or waiting a few months could be the difference between life and death.”

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