Where Was Your Melanoma?

 

According to the Melanoma Education Foundation (MEF), melanoma can appear anywhere on the body, even in places never exposed to the sun.  In White males, the most common location is on the back.  For White women, the back of the lower legs is most common.  For darker toned folks such as Hispanic, Asians, and African-Americans, the most common location is the feet or hands.  See the chart below from the MEF website:

Courtesy of MEF

 A few days ago, I posed the following question on Facebook and Twitter.  “Where did your melanoma first appear?”  I received over 100 responses with answers as varied as the people that responded.  Some answers were very specific (“on my neck just below the right ear”) and others were very general (“on my back”).  I categorized the responses the same as listed in the MEF chart except that I didn’t split by sex.  The result of my informal survey:

Head & Neck	24%
Trunk	27%
Arms	20%
Legs	29%

Keep in mind that melanoma can indeed appear anywhere.  Some of the more specific answers included “bottom of my foot,” “eyeball,” “thumbnail,” “right breast,” “buttocks,” and “scalp.”  This proves that you should check every inch of your body for any suspicious spots.  Every.  Place.  Including the genitals.  Guys, check around your penis (as if you don’t already) included beneath the scrotum.  Gals, check your vaginal area.  If you don’t listen to me, listen to my friend Timna at “Respect the Rays” who is always sending this reminder!

It’s advised to perform a self-check at least once a month.  Melanoma Exposed recommends a three-step method:

1.       Look in the mirror.  Use a mirror to examine your head, scalp, face, neck, chest and torso (women should check under their breasts).  Then check your hands, nails, elbows, arms and underarms.

2.       Sit Down.  Take a seat and check your legs and feet, including the soles, heels and nails.  Use a hand mirror to check your genitals.

3.       Stand.  Use a hand mirror to inspect the back of your neck, shoulders, upper arms, back, buttocks, and legs.

Better yet, get a partner to check with you! 

See a dermatologist at least once a year…preferably one that specializes in skin cancer and melanoma.  The Melanoma Research Foundation offers a Metastatic Melanoma Treatment Center finder by region on their website.  Other organizations offer similar services.

Melanoma can start anywhere.  But with a constant monitoring of our own skin, it can be detected and stopped with great success.  Early detection is the key!  Please check today!

Uncontrollable Risk Factors

There has been a lot of news and discussion lately about tanning beds.  A congressional report came out stating that tanning salons were being deceptive with their “facts” in an effort to bring in new clients.  Several states have introduced legislation to ban or severely limit tanning bed use.  And New South Wales in Australia made news when they voted to ban the beds for minors.  It seems that the beginning of the end of tanning beds is near.  But let’s not forget those who were not affected by the sun or tanning salons.

A video of a young lady, Kelsey, who has had melanoma since she was 14 was recently posted on YouTube.  At age 19, she’s been through it all…and her fight continues.  What’s interesting in her first video is that she states that she stayed away from tanning beds.  Unfortunately, she still has a higher risk for melanoma.  She’s a red head, therefore is two to three times more likely than others to be diagnosed with melanoma.

The Melanoma Education Foundation website posts a list of high risk factors that have nothing to do with tanning beds, known as Uncontrollable Risk Factors.  Essentially, if one of these factors applies to you, you have an increased chance of melanoma.  I present the list below, with the associated “risk multiplier” for each factor.  Some of the increases are startling:

Risk Factor                                                                         Risk Multiplier

50 or more normal moles                                                   2x – 4x

One atypical mole                                                              2x

Red/blonde hair, blue/green eyes,                                    2x – 3x
and or light complexion

Heavily freckled with no atypical moles                            3x

Personal history of non-melanoma cancer                        3x – 5x

Undergoing immunosuppressant treatment                      4x – 8x
or medication

Ten or more atypical moles                                               12x – 14x

Heavily freckled with many atypical moles                       20x
but no family history of melanoma

Personal history of melanoma                                           9x – 28x

Two immediate family members (parent,                         100%
child, or sibling) have had melanoma

Many atypical moles and one immediate                         100%
family member has had melanoma

Having certain skin diseases such as lupus                     Very High
or xeroderma pigmentosum

Taking a photosensitizing medication                              Unknown
or treatment

What astounded me most were the two factors that state there is a 100% likelihood of being diagnosed with melanoma.  I thought for sure I misunderstood that, so I contacted the MEF directly.  Steve Fine, the president of MEF emailed me to confirm that the risk is indeed 100%.  Wow.

What this tells us is that, even if you don’t tan, you need to get checked regularly…especially if you have one of these higher risk factors.  Sure, tanning and sunburns contribute to skin cancer and melanoma (see their site for “Controllable Risk Factors”) but the beast can still affect you without the aid of UV rays.

Just ask Kelsey.

Where To Look

I was looking through the Melanoma Education Foundation website (check it out) and found a good graphic on where melanoma originates on caucasion males and females:



©Melanoma Education Foundation

 It astounded me that half (50%) of all melanoma found on men occurs on their trunk...and mostly on their back.  (That's where my brother first found it on him).  It's important to use a mirror when checking yourself...or better yet, a partner that can check for you.

And for readers and friends of darker tones, the MEF has this to share:

"Common locations of melanomas in the Asian, Hispanic, and African-American population are on the soles of feet, palms, between toes and fingers, and under toenails and fingernails (especially the large toenail and thumbnail)."

Below is a photo of a melanoma spotted under a toenail that might be mistaken for toenail fungus:

©Melanoma Education Foundation

Check yourself monthly and have a board-certified dermatologist take a look at you annually!