Self-examination is important to identify changes in moles and melanomas

On April 8th, ‘World Cancer Day’ is celebrated. The date serves to make the population aware of the care and prevention of the disease, especially with regard to melanoma, since, according to data from the WHO (World Health Organization), this type of tumor is responsible for the death of more than 55,000 people. people per year.

According to information from the Ministry of Health, melanoma represents about 30% of all malignant tumors registered in Brazil, which is why you should be aware of the signs that appear in your body. “Although the main cause of melanoma is genetic, sun exposure also influences the onset of the disease — especially with the high levels of radiation that reach levels considered potentially carcinogenic, where exposure to UVA/UVB AND IR (infrared) radiation occurs,” he says. the dermatologist Dr. Renato Soriani, member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology.

People who should self-examine

The dermatologist explains that the self-examination should be carried out mainly in fair-skinned people, those who have a family history of skin cancer, have more than 50 moles, took a lot of sun before the age of thirty and suffered burns. The indication also applies to people who have already removed moles diagnosed with atypical.

Ways to perform the self-examination

According to the doctor, performing self-examination regularly is essential to notice changes in advance. “The ideal is to perform the self-examination with some regularity, once a month, in front of the mirror and preferably with natural light, to check for the appearance of any stain, relief or wound that does not heal”, says Dr. Renato Soriani, who recommends:

• Examine the face, especially the nose, lips, mouth and ears;
• To facilitate the examination of the scalp, separate the strands with a comb or use a hairdryer for better visibility. If necessary, ask someone for help;
• Pay attention to the hands, also between the fingers;
• Pay attention to the arms, armpits, forearms and elbows;
• Focus on the neck, chest and chest. To the women they should also lift their breasts to pay attention to the signs where the bra is;
• Also look at the back of the neck and behind the ears;
• With your back to a full-length mirror, use another to look closely at your shoulders, back, buttocks and legs;
• Sit down, look at the inner thighs as well as the genital area;
• Sit down, look at your ankles, the space between your toes, as well as the soles of your feet.

This type of routine care promotes awareness and sharpens the eye on injuries, increasing awareness of change or growth. The next step, or even in case of doubt, is to visit the dermatologist.

Importance of self-examination

In addition to preventing the appearance of melanoma, self-examination, as it is an evaluation in which the patient begins to detect early lesions that show signs and symptoms that are different from the usual ones or that are growing, provides early visits to the dermatologist who will decide on the therapeutic treatment in question. with greater chances of cure.

“Another lesion that is quite common today, especially after the fifth and sixth decade of life, are carcinomas, both originating from the basal layer and the spinous layer of the epidermis, which when diagnosed they also quickly bring 100% cure to the patient”, says the dermatologist.

Signs that indicate serious injuries

To identify this type of case, the ABCDE rule (area, border, color, diameter and evolution) is usually used for pigmented moles. “We evaluated the area in which it is located, the edges identifying irregularities, we observed the presence or not of several colors composing this lesion and we observed if it presents a diameter above 6 mm and if it is in evolution (growth) in comparison to the last exam”, argues the Dr. Renato.

It is important to be aware of other symptoms that may appear. “As for the clinical signs, any lesion that itches, hurts or bleeds and that increases in size quickly or is sensitive, needs to be examined by a dermatologist, who will then perform a dermoscopy assessing the need for surgical removal”, he says.

consult an expert

Photoexposure, over the years, can generate new lesions or modify those that previously existed on the skin of any person. The best thing to do is always to be aware of the moles on the body, carrying out a self-examination, and going frequently to the dermatologist. “The chances of cure increase when there is early detection of the disease, according to the SBD. Therefore, performing a dermatological self-examination is necessary”, concludes Dr. Renato Soriani.

By Maria Claudia Amoroso