If you’re here, you most likely care about skin health and cancer prevention. To that respect, you have come to the right place. Now, we go into great detail about the importance of the Cancer Council skin check: how it is able to help in early detection and prevention, and take the steps needed to protect your skin.
What is the Cancer Council Skin Check?
The Cancer Council skin check is a thorough look at your skin to hopefully detect skin cancer early. These checks are performed by GPs, who will screen your skin for suspicious moles, spots, or lesions. It can be quick and perhaps one of the most important things you do to find a problem in its early stages.
Why Is Early Detection Important?
The early detection of skin cancer can save lives. Statistics show that up to 95% of skin cancers can be treated very effectively if these are caught at their earliest stage of development. This disease also remains one of the most common types of cancers in the world, comprising up to 13% of all cancer cases. Thus, regular skin cancer checks through the Cancer Council become a proactive step toward better health.
What to Expect During a Skin Check
Want to know how a Cancer Council skin check works? Let’s put it in a nutshell:
1. Initial Consultation: Your GP would start off by asking about your medical history, enquiring mainly about past skin conditions and your family medical history in relation to skin cancers.
2. Full-body examination: For this, you will have to undress, but you need not feel embarrassed because discretion is maintained with regard to privacy. The GP will examine your whole body, including regions that are not easily visible, such as the scalp, back, and between the toes.
3. Dermatoscope: This is a special magnifying device that helps the doctor to look closer at your skin for details that are invisible to the naked eye.
4. Photography and Documentation: This may include photography if there is suspicion of a spot for follow-up comparison.
5. Follow-up: If any of the areas concern the GP, they will refer you to have a biopsy or see a specialist for further examination.
How Often Should You Get a Skin Check?
Regular skin checks are important. For most people, a yearly Cancer Council skin check will suffice, but if you have a higher risk-for instance, fair skin, sunburn history, or family histories of skin cancer-you might have to have more frequent checks.
Self-Examination: Your First Line of Defense
Though professional skin checks are vital, self-examination may be your first line of defense. Here’s how you can go about it:
1. Use a Mirror: Stand in front of a full-length mirror and use a hand-held mirror to check hard-to-see areas.
2. Follow the ABCDE Rule: Look for Asymmetry, Border irregularities, Color variations, Diameter larger than 6mm, and Evolving shapes and sizes.
3. Check Monthly: Make self-exams a monthly routine.
Sun Protection: Prevention of Skin Cancer
Prevention is better than cure, right? Following are some useful ways of protecting your skin from damaging UV rays:
1. Sunscreen: Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Repeat every two hours.
2. Protective Clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses on.
3. Seek Shade: During peak UV times-from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.-stay out of direct sunlight whenever possible.
4. Avoid Tanning Beds: They are as harmful as sunlight.
Myths and Facts About Skin Cancer
Let’s debunk some of the common myths when it comes to skin cancer and sun protection, shall we?
– Myth: I have dark skin; I don’t need to worry about skin cancer.
Fact: Individuals with darker skin feel they usually are exempt from skin cancer, but this is a fallacy. Though your darker skin contains more melanin, which may serve to protect the skin from some degrees of UV rays, it doesn’t make you absolutely immune against skin cancer. As a matter of fact, when skin cancer does strike for those with dark skin, it usually reaches an advanced stage rather than when it strikes lighter-skinned people, which makes it more difficult to treat.
– Myth: It’s winter; I don’t need sunscreen.
Fact: Most of them say, “Only the summer season requires the use of sunscreen.” But the UV rays can be there every season of the year. On cloudy days or even if it is a cold day, the harmful UV rays can reach your skin. As a matter of fact, the UV rays can reflect off surfaces like snow and increase exposure to put people at a great risk for skin damage.
– Myth: A base tan protects me from sunburn.
Fact: The idea that a “base tan” protects against sunburn. Any darkening of the skin is just a sign of skin damage from UV radiation, and while it reduces the risk of superficial burns it does nothing to protect skin from long-term damage. Repeated tanning causes increased risk of skin cancer and advanced skin aging. Always use appropriate sun protection, rather than trying to get a tan.
The Role of Diet in Skin Health
Believe it or not, what you eat can impact your skin’s health. Foods rich in antioxidants like berries, nuts, and leafy greens can help protect your skin from damage. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish can also promote skin health.
Final Thoughts
If you discover something unusual during a self-exam, it’s essential to remain calm. While changes in your skin may be harmless, it’s always better to consult a professional to be sure. Schedule an appointment with your GP or a Cancer Council-approved specialist as soon as possible.
Early detection plays a crucial role in managing potential skin conditions, including skin cancer. A thorough examination by your doctor can either put your mind at ease or, if necessary, help initiate prompt treatment, which increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.