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Skin cancers called melanomas are one of the most dangerous. These are malignant tumors that originate from pigment cells – melanocytes. We are most exposed to the formation of melanomas by exposing our skin to sunlight. It is easy to detect the disease knowing the popular ABCDE principle. Knowing this rule can save your life!
Why are malignant melanomas so dangerous?
Melanomas are not the most common cancers that occur. According to statistics from 2003, the number of people with melanoma among all people suffering from cancer was only sixteenth in the list created by doctors. Nevertheless, this disease is a real threat. Every year, nearly 140 people worldwide fall ill. According to statistics, every year more and more people around the world fall ill, and the number of cases is increasing at a very fast pace.
What do we know about melanoma?
- It is harder for men to pass, treatment for men is much more difficult
- White people are more likely to get sick
- Most often, the disease develops in middle-aged people between 30-45 years of age
The ABCDE principle that can save lives!
Seeing any birthmark on our skin, we rarely think about whether it is a cancerous change. Meanwhile, noticing this change and promptly reporting to a doctor is the only way to save your life or the lives of your loved ones in the case of skin cancer. The disease progresses extremely quickly, so you should act as quickly as possible. Skin protection is also a good preventive measure in this case.
So what signs should arouse suspicion?
- A – asymmetric. That is, those that do not have a regular shape, e.g. circles, like moles. These will be changes “spreading” over the skin
- B – uneven edges. The edges of the birthmark will not be arranged evenly, they may have thickening, be in some way “ragged”
- C – black, red or other color, non-uniform, mixed colors, lack of one skin color
- D – large size of the lesion, larger than an ordinary “mole”, larger than approx. 5-6 mm
- E – evolution of the birthmark, i.e. progressive changes noticeable to the naked eye over days or weeks, e.g. change in size or color
Apply the ABCDE principle every day
Cancers are difficult to diagnose, but melanomas are cancers that can be diagnosed completely by yourself. You should watch yourself, your loved ones and also your children – although children get sick very rarely, this disease does not really affect them. Any lesion that has any of the above ABCDE features should be immediately consulted with a primary care physician or dermatologist.