Mohs Surgery - Skin Cancer
Posted on April 16, 2008
Filed Under Skin Cancer Treatment | 2 Comments
The Mohs method of Micrographic surgery was created by Dr. Frederick E. Mohs, a general surgeon. It is microscopically controlled and is highly effective for common types of skin cancer. The cure rate is cited between 97 to 99 percent for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Because the surgery is micrographically controlled, it provides precise removal of the cancerous tissue, sparing healthy tissue.
As you will see in the following photographs, Mohs surgery may be used on delicate areas such as the face. This patient had 50 stitches on her cheek, but the scarring is very minute and will fade with time, becoming nearly invisible.
Immediately following surgical removal of tissue, the specimen is processed and examined to determine if further surgery is necessary. The surgery and examination are repeated until no further removal is necessary.
Skin cancer needs to be treated - ask your doctor if MOHS surgery is right for you.
Educate Yourself in Skin Cancer Detection!
Posted on April 9, 2008
Filed Under Skin Cancer Detection | Leave a Comment
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common cancer in humans, squamous cell cancer is the second and both may increase your risk of developing the third most common skin cancer, melanoma. Melanoma is a tumor which begins in the cells which produce the skin’s pigment, and may be deadly if left untreated.
Early detection is the key. Check your own body for new or changing moles, lesions or other spots on your skin once a month, and visit a dermatologist for a professional skin check annually. Any lesion which changes size, shape, or color, or that begins to itch, doesn’t heal, bleeds intermittently, or becomes worse over the course of a month should be examined right away.
Remember your mnemonic ABCD’s and ‘E’s:
Asymmetrical skin lesion.
Border of the lesion is irregular.
Color: melanomas usually have multiple colors.
Diameter: moles greater than 5 mm are more likely to be melanomas than smaller moles.
Evolution: The evolution (ie change) of a mole or lesion may be a hint that the lesion is becoming malignant -
or– Elevation: The mole is raised or elevated above the skin.
Don’t procrastinate - if you wait until the mole or lesion looks like a ‘text-book’ study case, it may already be too late to catch the melanoma in it’s early stages. Skin cancer awareness is very important and education is key to maintaining your good health and increasing your chances of living a long, enjoyable life.
Worship Your Skin, Not the Sun!
Posted on April 8, 2008
Filed Under Skin Cancer Protection | 1 Comment
Your mother is right, you must protect your skin from the strong rays of the sun, especially while you are young.
Now, how did she gain that knowledge? Perhaps through a painful lesson, perhaps the health news on TV or in magazines. Trust her - most skin damage due to ultraviolet radiation occurs before age 20. Fair skinned people who tend to freckle, go red, or burn in the sun are at higher risk than black or brown skinned people. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the leading cause of most skin cancer.
It is never too soon, or too late to begin protecting your face and neck daily with a moisturizer which contains sunscreen - you will be covering two important facets of skin care with one product.
Most cosmetic companies offer a moisturizing product which contains SPF 15 or more. The ‘Sun Protection Factor’ is very important even if you do not “plan” to be sunbathing. Merely being outside for a 15 minute walk could cause damage to unprotected, delicate skin. Getting in the habit of caring for your skin is very important in the prevention of skin cancer.
Babies and children are at high risk of sunburn on their delicate, new skin. Special childcare sunblock cream, lotion and spray-ons are readily available and should be on hand in every household, and applied as frequently as the directions suggest. Children may be in and out of the house dozens of times per day so an application of sunscreen is absolutely necessary - even on overcast days.
If you feel you “must” sunbathe, in spite of the risks, start slowly - don’t roast your skin the first day in the sun. Take on your healthy seeming glow in degrees, thus decreasing the serious harm a severe sunburn causes. Tanning is the melanin in your skin darkening to protect it from the sun’s rays. In fact tanning is a sign you are injuring your skin. Protect the most sensitive skin areas; face, neck, shoulders, hands and arms with shade providing hats, and beach umbrellas. Areas of skin which have been badly burned have an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma. More bad news - regular use of sunlamps and sunbeds increases the risk of developing skin cancer. Self-tanning products are the only ’safe’ way to obtain a sun kissed glow.
Many clothing companies are introducing sun blocking light weight fabrics in their sun and swim apparel and these are simple solutions to implement for all children and at-risk adults. The new fabrics offer quick drying, comfortable, lightweight protection in stylish hats, shirts, pants, coverups and aquasuits.
Take care of your skin - it’s the single largest organ of your body! Skin Deep will tell you everything you need to know about this marvellous part of the human body.
Don’t forget to wear your UV protection sunglasses!
“What’s Women’s Lib Got to Do With it?”
Posted on April 7, 2008
Filed Under Background | 1 Comment
Victorian era women carried parasols, wore large hats and sat in the shade of the Oak trees, drinking Mimosa’s for good reason.
Not only was their heavily layered clothing extremely warm and cumbersome, making strenuous exercise nearly impossible, but they were also protecting their delicate skin from the harmful, painful, burning strength of the sun’s rays. It was not fashionable in the 1800’s to be tanned - only the poor folk who ‘worked’ outside for a living were ‘berry brown’, thus exposing their ‘class’.
By the early 1900’s women’s liberation gained momentum and females exposed more skin. They proved their equality, acquired job skills and began competing in the ‘man’s’ world, thus necessitating they follow men’s rules. No more lolly-gagging around in the shade, gossiping and perfecting their needlework. Women went to work and this of course meant they more often were outside with little protection from the sun’s relentless fury.
Being a child in the liberal 1960’s meant running barefoot, bareheaded, barelegged and bare shouldered all summer, enjoying the freedom of shorter shorts and sleeveless middrift baring tops. If your Mom made you wear a hat you were classified a nerd - instantly. “Geek’s” hadn’t been invented back then!
Sunbathing became very popular, exposing as much skin as possible to the world and to the sun’s tanning rays. Of course, not all skin is equal, but as a child I listened to the popular older girls talking about slathering on baby oil and being kissed by the sun. It was a painful lesson considering my light skin and blue eyes.
Being blonde haired and blue eyed meant I was at serious risk of developing skin cancer in later life, but as a child it meant nothing to me. Sure Mom was right, stay out of the sun, wear a hat, wear long sleeves, but that was not always possible and with no sunscreen available to me, I was burned to a crisp every single spring.
May was usually the month my first sunburn occurred - and it was painful, year after year. As the summer progressed my skin turned a lovely, healthy appearing golden shade. I had no idea of, and of course, no concern, for the future problems this could and would present.
