The title of this column is exactly the words I recently saw
on a poster in a doctor's office. Most
people never get to see that poster; hence this column. The doctor was a specialist, a dermatologist
and Mohs surgeon. He had just finished
performing a minor in-office removal of tissue from my forehead.
Yes, I've had my first bout with cancer. The tissue had been biopsied and was
something known as a squamous cell carcinoma, a long name for a small skin
cancer. While this sounds ominous, I'll
tell you what the doctor said during my initial consult visit to put that to
rest. First, he asked if I'd ever had cancer before. When I replied that I hadn't, he said, "Well, this one won't
do you in." We both got a big
laugh out of that.
I was quite fortunate that the surgery removed all traces of
the offending cells, and I am on the mend.
However, as the doctor explained it, now that my skin has been invaded
by those nasty little squamous cells, I am susceptible to further attacks. Therefore, I have to schedule annual visits
for follow up exams.
Now that we've taken care of that good and bad news, we'll
get on to the reason for this column...
We are all somewhat vulnerable, especially those of us who worship the
sun too much. But there are ways to
detect early signs of trouble. 'Spot
the spot' is merely a self-exam regimen that you can practice periodically to
stay aware of any changes in your skin.
The face, throat, chest, stomach ... any body parts that are
easily seen, are no problem. It is the
back, the buttocks and the backs of your legs that present obstacles. The chart that I saw suggested inspection of
hard to see places on the body with a mirror, or a combination of mirrors. My own suggestion--one not given on the
chart--is that you get your spouse or significant other to inspect those areas
for you.
What are you looking for?
Well, freckles, age spots, skin tags and such are harmless, as are most
moles and/or 'beauty spots'. Many skin
blemishes are just that, but what you should look for is any change in shape,
size or color. Also, onset of pain or itching at the site of a blemish can
signal problems. It won't necessarily
indicate cancer, but you should have a doctor examine the problem spot. Early detection can be critical.
In my case, the trouble started with what looked like a
pimple on my forehead, and it stayed unchanged for about a month. Then, it suddenly started growing and
hurting. Within a week, it had doubled
in size and formed a gray scab. That's
when I decided to see my family doctor about it, and he excised it for
biopsy. Within two weeks I was in for
the surgery. I might have a small scar
on my forehead, but I'll live with that - literally.
I hope you'll take this column to heart and perform the
'Spot the spot' exams immediately, if you aren't already taking these
precautions.
