Newsletter 





















FEBRUARY 2004
LEARNING TO SPOT SUSPICIOUS SKIN CONDITIONS IN THE PREVENTION OF CANCER
By Valerie Harker
 
Skin cancer is the most common cancer that we deal with today and has increased 2000% since 1930. There are a lot of questions related to its causes and this frightening increase. The eroding ozone layer and our love of the outdoors for work and play, are certainly contributing to the condition.  However, the fact remains that this killer disease is taking more victims all the time. It is essential for all of us to begin to think clearly about the possible reasons for the disease and to become familiar with the ways to prevent it.
 
What is skin cancer?
There are basically 3 types of skin cancer; basal cell cancer or carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common forms of skin cancer the least dangerous, the least likely to spread and the most highly treatable in the case of early detection. Malignant melanoma is the more serious skin cancer but is also highly treatable in the early phases.
 
Basal cell carcinoma
This disease is most prevalent in blond, fair-skinned people. It can be identified as an ulcerlike growth that spreads very slowly and destroys tissue as it moves. A large pearly looking lump, is normally the first sign of this cancer. It can be found most often on the face by the nose, neck or the ears.  Six weeks after it’s initial presentation the lump will become ulcerated. The lump will display a raw, moist center with a hard border that may bleed. Eventually a scab will form over the ulcer and then come off. But the ulcer never fully heals and scab formation continues. Some basal cell carcinomas can be found on the back or on the chest. These are flat in appearance. Basal cell carcinoma is generally curable, it’s slow development facilitating treatment. If they do go untreated however, they can significantly damage the layers of skin and bone beneath them.
 
Squamous cell carcinoma
This form of skin cancer is characterized by the development of lumps or tumors under the skin. These lumps start out as a thickened area that later breaks down and forms an ulcer with a crust that does not heal. They appear most often on the ears, hands, face, or the lower lip. Once again fair-skinned people are at risk but most often they are over fifty years of age and have spent a lot of time outdoors.  Squamous cell cancer is very treatable in the early stages.
 
Malignant Melanoma
Malignant melanoma is a skin cancer in which a tumor arises from the skins pigment-producing cells. The most common forms of malignant melanoma originate in moles. Here are some of the characteristics of cancerous moles: Moles that are asymmetrical or have an irregular color or that are growing in size can be precancerous moles. Cancerous moles are generally larger than 5 millimeters in diameter (about the size of a pencil eraser) but a new mole, even if it is small should be checked. A lot of cancerous moles are very dark or have irregular pigmentation but some cancerous moles have no pigment at all due to cells that are so abnormal that they are not producing pigment.
Thickness is another aspect of mole anatomy that is important to consider.  Cancerous moles that are less than 1 millimeter thick and are removed have a very high cure rate. If a mole that is 4 millimeters or more has to be removed there is a strong possibility that it has already invaded the dermis and has access to the blood vessels. There is a very high possibility that the melanoma has spread or will spread to other areas of the body.
 
If you are blond, red haired, fair-skinned and have a tendancy to sunburn you have a higher risk of developing skin cancer. Freckles, a family history of skin cancer, a blistering sunburn as a child or more than 100 moles on your body, are other factors that can put you at risk. If you are one of these people you should be thoroughly checked by a dermatologist from the top of your scalp to bottom of your feet. Even if you have none of these conditions, you should become familiar with the look of your skin.  Be vigilant in spotting abnormalities or changes and then reporting them to a doctor. A regular full skin examination is painless and straight forward and it might just save your life.
 
 
Valerie Harker graduated from the University of Alberta with a BED.  Melanoma is a skin disease that has run in Valerie’s family and has opened her eyes to the need for education and preventive treatment in skin care.  For more information you can email her at: valharker@gmail.com
 
MARCH 2004
STOP, LOOK and then LISTEN
to the voices in your head.
By Valerie Harker
 
                About 2 years ago my mother was making regular visits to a podiatrist for an annoying epidemic of corns on the bottom of her feet. During her course of treatment she began to notice that the bottom of her right big toe had a slightly dark discoloration that was not apparent in any other place on her toes or feet. She asked the podiatrist for his opinion during one of her visits to his office. He had never seen anything like this before and, as he would later admit, actually believed that the bottom of my mother’s foot was dirty or stained. Because it did not cause any discomfort and because of the podiatrists lack of concern she decided that her foot was completely normal.  But she continued to observe the stain and she was troubled by the fact that it would never go away. Some time later she fell down some stairs during a stay at a summer cabin. She badly injured her leg in her fall and when her holiday was over she visited her family doctor for a diagnosis. She took this opportunity to show him the discolored skin on her foot. Fortunately for my mother, this doctor was far more curious than the podiatrist. He was fairly certain that my glamorous and well-groomed mother did not have grimy stains on the bottom of her feet. He had never seen anything like this but suspected that it might be melanoma. He promptly sent her to a plastic surgeon, hoping that he would identify the mysterious condition that was turning darker and beginning to slowly spread. 
 
In the end my mothers instinctive concern and her family doctors curiosity saved her foot, and possibly her life. Unfortunately she was not able to keep her big toe. The dark fungus was eventually diagnosed as a very rare form of melanoma. After several biopsies and surgeries it became clear that the cancer had moved from the bottom of her toe to the sides on eventually onto the top, and deeper into the dermis. In an attempt to save her toe she went through 8 different surgeries where an increasing portion of her skin and bone was sliced away followed by lab work to determine if any cancer still remained.  After one month in the hospital, she went home and traded  all her trendy and strappy, open toed shoes for some very sensible (and not very trendy) oxfords. She was very thankful that she could still walk and that her condition had been caught. She was very disappointed that she had not trusted the voice in her heart that knew that something was wrong choosing instead to listen to the supposed voice of experience and expertise.
 
This year nearly 8 thousand Americans will die from melanoma. This is a tragic statistic because melanoma, when identified early, can be treated in a simple office procedure. When people are vigilant and carefully observe marks, moles and unusual skin conditions they can alert their doctor as soon as anything abnormal is detected. On the other hand, if a melanoma is given time to penetrate deeper into the skin and to gain access to the blood supply, the prognosis is very, very poor. Untreated melanoma is a killer.
 
No professional knows your body as well as you. That is why every person should develop a routine of watching for bumps and moles. They need to be observed and any changes need to be brought to the attention of a dermatologist or a family doctor. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a full-body self-examination every three months. Here is their handy A-B-C-D (Assymetry, Borders, Color and Diameter) checklist to help you monitor all your marks and moles.
 
You will need a full length mirror and a hand-held mirror in a room with very good lighting. Spot your marks and moles and become familiar with them. Watch for any changes using the following checklist:
 
Assymetry - Both sides of the mole have a uniform shape.
 
Border - The edges of a mole should be smooth and not blurred or ragged.
 
Color - Tan, brown and dark brown are normal colors for moles. A very dark mole or one that has changed color is not normal. Red, white, blue and black are not normal colors for moles.
 
Diameter - Be suspicious of moles that are larger than _ of an inch in diameter or ones that are increasing in size.
 
 
In short, listen to those sometimes annoying voices inside your head. An over active sixth sense has alerted many “would be” cancer victims to trouble which has ultimately prevented serious consequences. If you do spot something that looks suspicious, do not allow denial to stop you. Of course, and thankfully, not every lump and bump will be potentially malignant. But, if your doctor is alerted, he or she along with you, can begin to monitor any changes over time. Finally, make sure that you are confident in your doctor’s diagnostic capacity. You should not discount a professional who can not diagnose something upon first glance. But, you should rejoice if you find that you are in the care of one who believes, “When in doubt, check it out!” and promptly sends you off to another professional for a second opinion.
 
Today, cancer is a very real and very nasty part of our reality. It will effect you or someone close to you at some point in this life journey. It is vitally important to realize that every person can take steps to facilitate early diagnosis. While this will not always guarantee a cancer free life, it certainly is a great asset in the fight against a very real killer.
 
               Valerie Harker graduated from the University of Alberta with a BED.  Melanoma is a skin disease that has run in Valerie’s family and has opened her eyes to the need for education and preventive treatment in skin care.  For more information you can email Valerie at:  valharker@gmail.com