Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Working Hard ...

W-O-R-K .... It pays the medical bills, the vacation bills and for all the wonderful things that Jim and I love to do. But does it have to get in the way of then rest of my life so much right now?

Small price to pay, I guess... Have a great day and Live STRONG!
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YOUR MELANOMA TIP FOR TODAY:

What to Look For

When a melanoma is detected at an early stage and treated, it Is usually curable. Some melanomas are hidden in everyday life - by inconspicuous locations on the body; by clothing; even by hair on our heads. But many, if not most, melanomas can be spotted as soon as they arise - if you know what to look for and check for those signs.

The ABCD's of Moles & Melanoma

Most people have a number of brownish spots on their skin - freckles, birthmarks, moles. Almost all such spots are normal, but some may be skin cancers. Key warning signs of melanoma are shown below. Be alert to irregularities in shape, edges, color, and size. The ABCD's of melanoma are as follows: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variability, and Diameter larger than a pencil eraser.

Asymmetry

Most early melanomas are asymmetrical: a line through the middle would not create matching halves. Common moles are round and symmetrical.

Border

The borders of early melanomas are often uneven and may have scalloped or notched edges. Common moles have smoother, more even borders.

Color

Common moles usually are a single shade of brown. Varied shades of brown, tan, or black are often the first sign of melanoma. As melanomas progress, the colors red, white and blue may appear.

Diameter

Early melanomas tend to grow larger than common moles - generally to at least the size of a pencil eraser (about 6mm, or 1/4 inch, in diameter).

If you detect any of these warning signs, see a physician promptly.

2 comments:

Born To Endure said...

I have this little redish/pink spot on my upper forhead..never seems to go away..skin grows over it, then peels off..it's weird? Should I have it checked out?

Holly said...

Yep... Get thee to a Dermatologist Ms. Shelley!. Not to alarm you but it sounds just like the "basil cell carcinoma" that my boyfriend Jim had. It is a mild and very common skin cancer that is easily treatable OR it could just be a shedding mole but only your derm could tell you!